Thank you sans2014! I've laid it out to dry on some newspaper. Would cactus/ succulent soil suffice? Or would you still recommend getting perlite and granite?

Also, it's become badly bent near the base from all of the abuse. Should I tie it to a chopstick or something?

It would be good if you posted clear photo of your plant. Sans suggested that it could be rotting if it was wet for extended periods of time, but it would be easier to tell if we can see the plant.

Bent doesn't sound to good either - but pls. post photo.

Agree with both above. Without the pics but based on the description - yellow at the bottom and bending--it may be rotting. If so, you will need to chop off all rotten material, let it callus, then pot up the cutting (good part at the top of the plant). I could be wrong and I hope I am but... It would be very helpful to see a picture.

It's definitely rotted :*( could I maybe get a cutting from the top and try to propagate it?

Yes, it is rotted. Try to get cutting ASAP as rot spreads quiet qickly. Cut when the green starts, and keep cutting thin slices off until healthy flesh shows up. If you leave any rot, it will just continue.

Looking at your mix, it would be much better if you improved it. I would use mix that is made of sifted perlite and grit in approx. equal amounts, adding just a bit of soil - maybe 10 - 20% of total.

How about the container: does it have drainage hole?

It survived for a quite long time if you have it for 3yrs. But it should have grow some offsets in that time - they grow from roots. I bought small plant and within a year it grew 4 offshoots. Roots need to be healthy, and if using water retaining soil, they are not. Plant will tag along for a while, but eventually will 'give up'.

So to get a cutting, I've read that the cut end has to sort of dry for a day or two before planting and when planting it should just sort of rest on top of the soil. Is that right?

This is soil, perlite, and grit. Healthy cutting resting on top to dry a bit. The earrings are my flatmate's haha

It is 'safer' if left to dry a bit. Usually few hours is enough. If potting into completely dry mix, cutting could be potted immediately. BUT, since it was rotting, drying would be likely best.

It may be good idea to dust the cut with powdered cinnamon (or flowers of sulfur if you have some).

Cutting should be clear of any rot, so make sure there is no black spots of any kind in the cut end. I do not think that kind of cutting should be resting on top to dry a bit; that is how leaves are usually left to root (they could be inserted into mix too - either way usually works). This long cutting should be stuck in the mix, and mix should be dry. (I am not sure if last photo shows another cutting. or is it the rotted one after cutting the rot off?) Here is cutting of the same plant; tip got broken by something falling on the plant. I just cut the broken end clean and inserted into dry, mostly inorganic mix:

I would use more perlite and grit in the mix - IMO, there is lots of soil....