Pain-related insomnia

[Pudding Crawl]

Hello there. I'll preface by saying I am seeing a doctor for this and related problems, so it's not going un-examined; I would like some snopesy perspectives, that's all.
Lately I cannot sleep because I hurt. It is a non-specific sort of joint/muscular pain, all over. Mainly feet, legs, hands-wrists-arms-shoulders, back area around the kidneys, abdomen, and headaches also. So it's quite distracting. It seems unrelated to activity.
It has been worse this last fortnight and is getting quite intrusive. It does occur during the daytime but seems much worse when lying down; I don't know though whether that is positional, or because I don't have anything to distract me from it when trying to get to sleep.
Previously I had taken ibuprofen which managed it acceptably (only ibuprofen- paracetamol or co-codemol are not effective) but the pain has become worse and it is no longer effective, at least not at OTC doses.
So I am hurting so much I don't get any sleep during night-time. I sometimes drop off from exhaustion round about 9 am and then wake up about 4, still tired and fairly useless. Or I will manage to get up in the morning having not had much sleep, stay awake all day although I am desperate for a nap, and then fail to sleep once it's bedtime.
I can't do any work during the night and if I wake during the day I am not good for much. Also I am skipping a lot of social activities because I either am not awake, am too tired to go out, or have not had enough sleep to drive safely.
Baths, nice relaxing beverages etc. have not been any help (although they are pleasant- baths don't help with the pain either.)
I am unable to take Nytol etc. because of other medicines (I am on Effexor, iron tablets and something to stop me being sick during blood tests).
So... anyone had anything like this, or insomnia in general (more of an inability to sleep at the right times than total not-sleeping)?

[Horse Chestnut]

It's a shame you can't take diphenhydramine, PC. That's my drug of choice when I can't sleep and it's very effective without leaving you feeling drugged in the morning. Valarian root works well for me sleep-wise, but it leaves me with a headache in the morning.

I am about to try a herbal supplement called Relora, a derivative of Magnolia bark, to treat my high levels of cortisol. It supposedly works well as a sleep aid, but I haven't heard anything first-hand about it.

I wish you the best and hope the doctor is able to help you. Chronic pain is the pits!

[Pudding Crawl]

Thanks Horse Chestnut- it's nice that there are effective sleep aids without having to get prescribed 'sleeping tablets', even if I can't take 'em.
I have some valerian root around the house (as you do), I'll look into it and see if there are contraindications. Headaches aren't desirable, but I'd take them over the sleep problems at the moment.
Good luck with the Relora also.