C-spine Disc Bulge w/ No Symptoms? MS? Confused!!

  Hello!
  I've posted here before...been having problems for over 7 yrs (balance,
  muscle spasticity, ON, numbness & tingling, etc), & have been considered as
  having "probable MS" for about 4.5 yrs, & have been on Betaseron since that
  time. I recently changed neurologists, who initially saw some "questionable"
  areas in some brain MRI's done in Apr. '97. New MRI's of the brain were
  clear, LP was normal, blood work showed increased levels of ACE, ESR, ANA,
  & Rheumatoid Factor. Neuro then ordered chest x-ray to rule out Sarcoidosis
  (came back normal), & a C-spine MRI, which showed a disc pressing on my
  spinal cord, which was NOT there in Apr '97 (sorry - don't know which disc...
  I should be getting the dr's written report in a day or 2). I have an appointment
  w/ a Rheumatoidologist coming up in several wks, & now my neuro wants me to
  see a neurosurgeon as well.
  My questions: If none of my previous C-spine MRI's showed any disc problems,
  could this new finding have caused over 7 yrs of symptoms? And, doesn't a
  disc problem like this cause extreme pain? My mom had a disc problem several
  yrs ago, & she was in agony until it was repaired....her neck, shoulder, &
  arm hurt constantly, & tingled. I am an extremely active person - a Ballet
  teacher - & have no pain or discomfort of any sort in my neck, etc! Other
  than the muscle spasticity I've had for most of the past 7 yrs in the left
  side of my neck, I have no problems w/ movement, as far as range of motion
  or pain is concerned.
  Right now, I'm so confused, I don't know what to do! I feel like I'm spinning my
  wheels, finding things wrong w/ me, but none of them explain the past 7+ yrs
  of symptoms I've been having! And this disc problem is about the last thing
  I would have expected, especially as I'm not having any of the symptoms one
  would normally expect to have w/ it!
  Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!
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Dear LT-K,
There are many people walking around with bulging discs that do not need surgery.  One study found that 30% of the patients had bulging discs.  The point is that the decision for surgery regarding bulging and herniated discs is driven by a patient's symptoms.  This is just an incidental finding and does not need surgery if you are not having any pain or neurological deficits.
Most patients do, over time, develop some 'wear and tear' in the spine that can be seen on radiological studies.  Only a small proportion of these patients ever require surgery.  
Good luck.