Nick used to get night terrors at that age and it was awful, he would scream for ages, but we were told not to touch him from the dr because it can make it worse.
He never woke up though, once it was over he would lie back down and go straight back to sleep, he didn't even know i was there.
It sounds like your little one is just unsettled at the moment, all my boys went through this at some stage, i hope it doesn't last long for you though