"The for-profit company's bullshit generator promised it helped me with some minor stuff" is perhaps not as compelling evidence as you imagine it to be.
You would have no idea you had it without imaging, since in the early stages you feel nothing.
Now I can work to build up muscle around that area and avoid over exerting that part of my back, instead of dealing with pain and being prescribed opiates in 20 years. Another example of how the system has killed countless people and absolutely failed the public.
From 30 years of age, disc degeneration is more likely than not. You don’t need a scan to tell you you’re in the early stages of it.
Everyone is going to get a bad back at some point if they don't take care of themselves.
"Eat right and exercise " is very generic advice, but it's cheaper than an MRI and will prevent more disease.