Hardware repair of volume down button

Hi guys,

I was trying to install an ICS rom on my HTC Desire HD, I had a Virtuous Affinity rom running at the time, clockwork mod and a recovery on my SD. Latest versions of OS and CWM.

Unfortunately ICS install got stuck in an ICS install loop and now no matter what I do, take battery out, or whatever, that's all it will do, stay in a screensaver like loop.

I've tried ADB and I've tried booting the phone into recovery. Unfortunately it appears USB debugging is off, and so any solution such as adb reboot recovery is out.

Sadly, I cannot boot into recovery using volume down + power button because it appears my volume down button does not work. I have removed the flimsy plastic cover button and have been trying to boot into recovery by depressing a pen into the point the plastic cover is supposed to press until it clearly clicks 'on' however that also does not work.

It seems to me most logical that my volume down button is broken. I am wondering if anyone can suggest either hardware fix or work around? I'm not super techy but I can disassemble a phone and tinker around to a point. Failing that I'll pay someone to do it but yeah, trying to see if I can't get it done myself.

Thanks in advance for any help, it will be hugely appreciated.

NOTE: Volume button did not work prior to ICS bootloop either. I am pretty positive the solution lies in fixing the volume button, so yeah, if anyone knows how I can trick the phone into thinking volume button is down by taking her apart and pressing some doohickey or other, that'd be just incredible!