There's good news and bad news for St. Louis Cardinals fans waiting to hear more about Chris Carpenter's mysterious neck injury. The good news is that Carpenter did not suffer nerve damage in his neck. The bad news, however, is Carpenter was diagnosed with a bulging cervical disc.

The report comes from Joe Strauss:

While u wait: Carpenter diagnosed w/bulging cervical disc. Not nearly as bad as nerve damage. Club yet to decide when he resumes throwing.

— Joe Strauss (@JoeStrauss) March 11, 2012

Carpenter has been undergoing a battery of tests while bouncing around between doctors in an effort to find what's been causing his persistent neck pain, and it appears the Cardinals have finally found an answer. Of all the things his injury could have been, a bulging disc is on the mild side. The fact that the team does not have a timetable for his return, or even when he may start throwing on the side, gives reason for worry, with a lot depending on how he heals from the bulging disc.

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