Final answer:
Advanced treatments such as intravenous analgesia, long-term intrathecal or epidural catheter, and prescription opioid medications may be tried for severe, persistent pain that is resistant to conventional methods. These treatments are individually evaluated for each patient's condition and treatment history.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of treating persistent and severe pain that has not responded to conventional pain management approaches, various treatment options may be considered. For a patient whose pain has not been alleviated by other methods, one might expect to try more advanced treatments such as intravenous analgesia, long-term intrathecal or epidural catheter placement, or prescription opioid medications. Oral analgesics might have been the first line of defence but are usually insufficient for severe, persistent pain. Intramuscular analgesia may be used but is less common for long-term pain management due to discomfort and the need for repeated injections.
Pain that is due to tissue damage, known as inflammatory pain, or pain resulting from damage to the nervous system, known as neuropathic pain, requires different management strategies. Patients with severe pain that is resistant to treatment may also benefit from interventions such as neurostimulation or psychological support in addition to pharmacological treatments. In considering such advanced pain management techniques, a pain specialist would evaluate the patient's specific condition, past treatment history, potential side effects, and risk factors associated with any proposed treatment to determine the most appropriate course of action.