PC in chains, planned myself into a corner How about hallucinations? Especially if he gets tortured for information and deprived of sleep/food/water. Since it's just him and his mind in there, maybe his subconsciousness tries to tell him important plot points.
Can you strike an enemy in melee with an implement? I didn't find details necessary, but the full story is that the character was pretty much killed (I'm the GM) in a fight. I let him keep the character, but with a serious wound (he's got some dex penalties, but doesn't mind it much).