I can't help you fix the pad, but under your mouse settings in your Control Panel, you can switch/flip your buttons. This would allow you to use the right button as a "left-click" until you can get it fixed.
You might see if squirting some compressed air under there, helps. Sometimes tipping the (turned off first) laptop on edge, and then gently tapping around the perimeter can help.
You might also check for power settings, too; ThinkPads do some odd stuff to the middle--scroll--button based on the power settings.
Google your laptop model + replacement keypad or palm rest. The parts aren't terribly hard to replace. It's a small ribbon cable about a half-inch wide that connects it to the motherboard.