CRT issue

I'm not sure where to post this and it may have already been covered elsewhere. If it is posted somewhere else, please help a brother out :)

I have a 17 inch CRT that did something unusual. It went dim, but came back after some one smacked it a couple of times and then leaned on it. We've checked wire and board connections- all is well (we have not opened the monitor case, my wife isn't ready to raise the kids alone). Any idea might be going on? CRT going dead? I've read that CRT's usually dim a little at a time and haven't heard of them spontaneously coming back. Ghosts?

Cheers!