Can a bulging cervical disc become a herniated disc? i was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc about 35 yrs ago. i did pt and the pain was gone until about a week ago. i now have severe pain in the area of my shoulder blade and side of the neck?

Of course disc disease can be progressive and become more symptomatic. It sounds like you need a repeat MRI to see if you have a surgically treatable lesion. I think 35 years would be considered a long enough interval to determine any clinically significant changes.

Although this could represent increased damage to the pre-existing disc, the more likely possibility if this is indeed coming from neck and not brachial plexus, would be foraminal encroachment or damage to a different disc.