Question on MRI Report
 

Hi everyone - I had a question I was hoping someone might be able to clarify for me.

On my MRI report, it says I have mild bulging disc at C3-4 and C4-5 resulting in mild cord indentation. Does "cord indentation" mean herniated at those levels?

Thank you!!

I think it would have said herniation instead of bulge, I think it means the bulge is touching the cord a bit.
I think herniation is more severe than a bulge , herniation means the disk actually ruptured, per my understanding..

What symptoms/pain are you having?

Thanks Jo*mar. Scapula and shoulder pain mainly. Some numbness and tingling in the arm and fingers area.

Cord indentation is sign of stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal where the disk is intruding, The way it was explained to me is that the spinal cord is like a cake, once dented or damaged it cannot be repaired, personally i find this to be hog wash. my wife just had 7 levels of stenosis surgically corrected and all lower symptoms are gone when the neurosurgeon said they would not be.your condition may not require any type of surgery, some good therapy may do the trick with emphasis on spinal decompression. unless of course the pain becomes really unbearable or symptoms get worse. or if you do need surgery a minimally invasive option should be available to you, such as laser treatment.