Many of the suggestions you are going to get you probably have tried but here goes anyway.

Don't eat after 6pm.
Don't watch TV in bed, bed is for sleeping
The room should be cool but not cold.
The room should be pitch dark.
Go to sleep at the same time every night
Do not nap
No caffeine after 3pm this means soda and tea also

Best Wishes

Ouch

For me, I do everything opposite of what ouch said. I drink soda late, I eat late, I will even get up in the night to eat if I can't sleep. I keep a nightlight on in my room and leave a light on in the house. And whenever I am tired, I nap.

So, there are some nights that I have problems sleeping.

Thats awful that you cant sleep.
I have been using klonepin for years. I wonder if that might help you.
Btw, your mother sounds like my mother. They must be related, lol... Its not funny I know, its very difficult to go through life with a mother so deep in denial that she cant be there for you.

i have insomnia real bad due to another illness( bi-polar disorder) there are two meds out there that help seroquill an antiphyscotic in high doses works extreamly well for sleep in low doses trazadon it is basically a traqualizer it is important to sleep because althogh we are still in extreme pain it gives are bodies time to relax a little

Here's a hug for you. I hope you figure out a way to sleep very soon.

I use a combination of things to sleep, and man, I have started sleeping like a rock. And, after years of nights like you have described, it is wonderful. Hell, I didn't sleep hardly at all from last October until February. It was awful, eyes wide open, body exhausted, but couldn't sleep or if I did fall asleep, waking up due to the pain.

I have shared this on here before, I do as Ouch suggested, really the no tv works, and then I do a combination of techniques.

First I relax my muscle. Lay down, start with your toes, squeeze, release, continue up your body until you have relaxed even you forhead. Takes practice, but wonderful.

Next, I do deep breathing, inhale deeply, hold for a count of 6, exhale, repeat as needed, at least 4 times. Sends oxyegen to you brain.

My last step, if needed, is visualization. That is where you meditate about your favorite place in the world, think about it, the sounds, the smells, the feeling, such as, I visualize the beach, hearing the waves, the seagulls in the air, the smell of the salt water, the feel of the sun of my back.

Sounds like a lot, but I have it down after years of practice. (lol) 5-10 minutes I am out like a light, no sleeping pills either. It is wonderful. Wonderful to sleep like your suppose to. I hope this never goes away, I never want to stay up all night long again. Hey, hurts like hell when I get up, but I sleep...........

Oh, I even started dreaming again, happy, silly, lighthearted dreams......wonderful.

yes try zazas method.it works! they make tapes for getting to sleep just like she was saying the whole muscle squezzing.you can find them at any book store or a brookstones or any hippy like store.even the aromatherapy stories from glad works.the trick is relaxing leave all the day stuff for the day and make the night your time.I know it's hard to be relaxed when your in pain but try because your pain will only get worse by not sleeping.