Issues with Lock/Power button

[Karthik Hari]

Hi, This is my current situation.

My lock button is unresponsive as compared to the camera and the volume buttons.
I have to press the lock button for 3-5 seconds and slide off the screen (To cancel power off screen) in order to make it responsive again.
After doing this, the lock button becomes responsive again but after a particular period of time it goes back to state 1.

I have opted to use double tap touch wake up as a substitute and kept the lock screen timer to 30 seconds to avoid using the lock button but I would like to know whether further damage would occur if I continue using the "forcefully pressing the lock button and making it respond" technique for locking and unlocking the screen.

Also, I'd like to know the solution for my problem. Do I have to send my phone to Nokia Care and service the lock button? If yes, how much would it cost. I took my phone to Nokia Care and they asked me to buy a new case, of course I had broken my lock button which I didn't notice. (SPENT RS. 1500!!!!) Didn't prove useful though..