I had a bicycle accident about a month ago and flew over the handlebars, I did not go to the doctor as I had relatively good range of motion almost everywhere. It hurt to cough and laugh and sneeze, so I figured I may have cracked or bruised a couple of ribs, but I knew from past experience that there was really nothing I could do immediately, and that it would take time. Now, after four weeks, a lump ( I thought) was becoming more pronounced, but a friend of mine who is a physical therapist said that it appeared that I may have torn a ligament and that it would require surgery. I really don t have chronic pain, kind of just an ache, especially after I jog or when I get up from sleeping. But my friend said that if it is an actual ligament tear or separation, it could affect my ribs and/or lungs down the road. I have a planned snowboarding trip in three weeks and would prefer to address it upon my return, however, I would prefer not to put myself in jeopardy of worsening the injury.