So, in my wanderings I came across Volskygge in the Northwest corner of the map. After quite a few restarts, I somehow managed to battle my way through some very difficult (for my character) Draugrs. I reached the room with the four switches (bear, wolf, fox, and snake) that need to be activated in order and quickly figured out the incredibly easy clue as to what order to activate them in. When the gate blocking my way went up, the one behind me went down. I eventually battled my way to the end of the Volskygge passage and met the Draugr Death Overlord.

He destroys me with 1 hit (not an exaggeration). Nothing I have can even put the slightest dent in this thing. But this isn't where I need help.

I realize my level 9 battle mage is just not ready for this fight, so I backtracked to leave Volskygge. Unfortunately, when I got back to the switch room, my way out was still blocked by the gate that went down when I activated all the switches. All the switches are now "locked in place" and I can't figure out any way to open the gate.

I don't want my character to spend the rest of his life alone in that damp cave, living off frost spider eggs, with nothing to read but that stupid 2-page switch-clue book!

Help!!!

Hah, this part made me laugh! ^^

I don't remember Volskygge real well but it sounds like your only option is to keep going and somehow slip past or kill that tough Draugr. Or was there a time where that gate that's blocking your way was open after you already went through it?

I didn't see anything referring to your problem but here you go : http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Volskygge
Accept maybe this : If you have completed the puzzle but fast-traveled from the mountains without killing Volsung, returning later and going through Volskygge may put you into the situation where the puzzle gate is closed but the handles are locked in place.

Easist way would be to load a save from close before you entered Volkskygge.
This Dungeon is vectored (one way) and has something even tougher than a draugher Death Overlord at its end.

No one has yet made a mod to reverse the gate settings in it to simply walk out the way one came in either.
This dungeon has functioned in this way since Skyrim came out.

If you are ona PC, you have the option to open the console, click the blocking gate, enter the disable command, walk through, then tap in enable.
Other options include coc to a place you know. For example: COC WhiterunBreezehome. TCL is another option to fly past the gate witout altering it.

NPCs however do react to to the disabled gate as though it is still there. They should warp to you when you pass through a load door though.
I recommend reenabling it simply in case you need to acces it again.

Ahh, I forgot about that. Yikes, if he's having trouble with that Draugr then what's awaiting him at the very end will surely be one hell of a fight.