Rear Turn Signal Light Socket

The rear turn signal light socket on my car lost the spring action to it. I had to remove the old bulbs with needle nose pliers because the bulbs had been in there for so long. When I tried to install new bulbs, I can't rotate them into the slot. The bulbs have two tabs/nipples, one on each side and are offset, one is high and the other is lower on the bulb body. I am lining up the lower tab/nipple with the light socket lower matching groove. I can get the bulb tabs/nipples to the socket slot where you rotate the bulb, but I can't rotate it. Is there a fix to it or do I have to replace them? Would be kind of hard since they are in a difficult spot.