When your front torsion spring breaks you have to get a new one. The spring is what holds 90% of the weight of your garage door. Normally when they break you're door will only go up about a foot like you said. In that case I would tell someone to pull the red handle string down which will release it and you can open and lower manually. Basically right now your opener is don't all the work and it will eventually burn out. Springs cost form $40-$60. I wouldn't reccomend doing it yourself unless your mechanically inclined. For someone to come out and change it should run about $150. So get someone to come out and change the spring. You're welcome.
