Find out about arthritis, including the main types of arthritis, symptoms, treatments, self-care and when to get medical help. Arthritis is a condition often characterized by inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. It includes more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Learn about arthritis, one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States. Arthritis affects joints and causes symptoms like pain and stiffness. There are more than 100 types. Treatment is managing your symptoms or joint replacement. Arthritis is a general medical term used to describe a disorder in which the smooth cartilagenous layer that lines a joint is lost, resulting in bone grinding on bone during joint movement. [2] Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. [2] Arthritis involves chronic inflammation and stiffness in one or more joints. Learn more about common causes, diagnostic tests, and treatment options. Arthritis causes pain in the joints and the tissues surrounding the joints. The article looks at the symptoms, types, causes, and treatments. Learn about how different types of arthritis affect joints in different ways, along with how to get relief from arthritis pain. Arthritis is a leading cause of pain and limited mobility worldwide. There’s plenty of advice on managing arthritis and similar conditions with exercise, medicines and stress management. But how do you know what’s best for you? Here are some do's and don'ts to help you figure it out. Arthritis refers to a range of conditions involving joint inflammation. There are over 100 types, each with different symptoms that can emerge gradually or suddenly. Common arthritis symptoms. As the nation’s 1 cause of disability, arthritis affects nearly 60 million adults and hundreds of thousands of children. Over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions damage the joints and often other organs.