The common symptoms of arthritis are joint swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms can come and go, can be mild, moderate or severe. They can remain stable for years, but can progress, or get even worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in an inability to do daily activities, and make it challenging to walk, or even climb stairs. Permanent joint changes can occur with arthritis, and may become visible, however, most often the damage can only be seen on X-rays.