5th Gen iPod Touch will not restore

I have a 5th-generation iPod touch that I bought used, and it has worked fine for several years. I use it only in my car (I keep it in my purse, not the car), so occasionally, the battery will die when not used frequently. In the past, even when the battery was dead, it would play automatically once it received some charge. The screen came up in the fall of 2024 but wouldn't play. It went back to the setup screen, and now it will not accept my Apple ID and password. It says I need to use the account in which I set the iPod up. I have the same account but changed my email. I thought that was the problem, so I returned my Apple account to my original email. That did not work. I have reset and restored the iPod several times. Each time, it still brings me back to the setup screen with what I believe is my original email. It starts with the first letter of my email and ends with the correct email provider (the remaining letters are hidden with *'s). I have contacted Apple, and they said they cannot help me. I don't know what to do from here. When I search online, it appears this has happened a lot with the 5th gen. Are there any other solutions, or is it now worthless?