canon 17-55mm suddenly push-pull type

In photo shoot, when adjust flash lighting, my 7d and 17-55mm did a face plant into a carpet floor. My 7d is none the worst for wear, but my 17-55 now can't zoom out anymore, only zoom in. I was able to finish the shoot by physically pulling out the lens to zoom out. Surprisingly, the lens still works fine in term of image quality, and focusing.

So, short of taking the lens in, is there anything I can do fix this lens to zoom out. Am I messing up my lens by pulling it out?

Anyone know what the cost might be?

Thanks.

I can imagine if you keep pulling it in and out then you probably are messing up the internal mechanical linkages between the zooming ring and the lens itself. It's possible the thing is completely disconnected already and you are just sliding the zoom in and out. If there is still traces of a link left you are just making it worse. Send it in and stop playing with the zoom. Worse is if parts are loose inside and jiggling around and scratching your delicate glass elements.

Did it report the correct focal length in the EXIF data after the tumble?

Echo Johnson wrote in post #15369756
Did it report the correct focal length in the EXIF data after the tumble?

Interesting. It appears that it does. So it appears the sensor for detecting the focal length is in intact. Another thing is that if the turn the zoom ring to 35mm, I can only pull out the lens to 35mm.

I would think that it would be worth getting fixed right so I would send it in.

rklepper wrote in post #15369882
I would think that it would be worth getting fixed right so I would send it in.

yeah, this is course the right thing to do. Where does one get a lens repaired in California, ideally the SF bay area?