Do take it to a jeweler! If there's a workshop/workbench kind of store around, that's what you need. The jeweler will be able to polish, straighten, and otherwise fix it up, I'm sure without even seeing it. You might get them to quote you a price ahead of time, too--if all they're going to do is buff and polish out scratches, they shouldn't charge more than 25 or 30 dollars. (/former silversmith-in-training and lifelong know-it-all)

Yikes, that sounds painful as to your hands. I've had that happen and know how it is.

I hope your uncle laughed at his relatives, including slapping his knee and going "Ahahahaha!" down the phone.