Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes damage, inflammation, and pain in and around the joints. The term “arthritis” is actually very broad, as it refers to a number of different conditions, but the most common one in the U.S. is osteoarthritis. It happens when, over time, wear in a joint occurs. There are some other common types of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Because arthritis is a chronic and degenerative condition, it won’t go away by itself and may worsen without professional care. The earlier you get professional care, the sooner you’ll be able to slow the progression of the condition and get relief from your pain.