Is this sleep hell?

What I wouldn't give right now for a baby that could talk and just tell us what the problem is and why he can't fall asleep. I am just so grateful that PB is home and that there is someone else that can deal with the incessant crying, screaming, burbling etc...

We've been toying around with the idea of sleep training, but the cry it out option, at least the Ferber method which suggests going in and soothing in increments that increase would unlikely work with Corwin. He seems to be the type of child that would get himself more worked up, to the point of vomiting (I've heard in some) rather than exhaust himself, give up and go to sleep. The Sears method suggests co-sleeping, which we are, but I'd rather not go to bed every night at 8pm when he does. Does this mean that I'm doomed to rocking and soothing him until he's old enough to talk and tell us what the problem is? That day could not come sooner.

If it's teething, I can imagine it is quite uncomfortable but it's odd that it only gets really bad at night. He's not too hot or too cold. He's not gassy. He's not crying because he's got a wet diaper. So what is it? It's frustrating to see him obviously unhappy about something but has no way of communicating it except through crying. What's even more exasperating, when we finally get him to fall asleep, he doesn't sleep for longer than an hour and then we have to start all over again. Again, very grateful that PB is home right now, because this is all getting old really quickly. He's now been crying for the past 45 min. with PB by his side trying to soothe and get him to fall asleep.

Sleep issues are one of the most common problems for parents. I suppose I should count myself very lucky as Corwin is such a good natured baby for the whole day and not colicky like some other babies are. This sleep hell just makes for a really long day and I'm really sympathetic to why parents always look so tired now. I'm looking forward to the day when we can say "Remember when...."