Controlled Crying is still very much in use today.  I have used it with all 4 of my girls, and will be with #5 too, and while was hard to begin with, has been better in the long term.

If he is waking up that many times a night, does he have a dummy?  If he does, then it sounds like he's one of these babies that have to have it in their mouths all the time when asleep and if it rolls away, then he is going to be very quickly looking for it again.

The other thing I have found with my girls is the noise levels of the house.  During the day there is the hussl and bustle from within the house and the noise from outside the house too.  At night, most of those noises are gone.  You could try and record the noises you hear in the house and play it back to him at night.

Get in touch with Tresillian;  it sounds like you could do with some professional help.  6 - 7 times a night is definitely not normal, and it sounds like he is in control.  You need to do something before you get ill from so little rest.