Rubber bumper stuck in socket

Hi,

I tried to put my iPod classic into a docking station the other week, and it wouldn't fit. I took it out to have a look and i saw a small blue piece of plastic in the socket. Today through this site I've realised it was one of the blue rubber bumpers.

Like an idiot, i thought it was just something that had got jammed in my pocket, so took it out with a knife.

It now won't charge and won't be recognised by my laptop, a couple of days after this happened, i plugged it into my docking station and it played music but didn't charge, however it now won't even play music through the dock.

It still works, but it won't charge so I'm not using it until it's fixed otherwise I worry it might be lost forever.

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this, whether by myself or going to a professional (but i want to know what i'm talking about).

Many Thanks,

Sam