2001 drivers door handle issue

Recently when I closed my door it didn't latch, it bounced when I closed it a couple times then it worked. Then last night I went to open it and it would not open. I crawled in from the passenger side. It would not open from the inside either. I noticed that the exterior handle was not returning all the way to its normal position so I whacked it. It worked.



Has anyone else had this happen? Can I fix the handle or do I need to replace it?