Kat, you shouldn’t have to struggle to get your teeth to mesh together evenly. I’d like you to try the bite test again, but this time don’t clench. Just gently close until the first tooth or cusp touches somewhere with teeth on the opposite arch. Note that tooth or point of contact. Then try to fully close, don’t clench) and note any tooth or point that touches next. The goal is to determine if the bite is evenly distributed.
I’m also suspect of your misaligned teeth and hard bite. Might be making nerves hypersensitive. I like your idea of reaching out to the U of M to their dental dept if they have one, neurology or both.