I have had feet cramps for most of my life. I remember when I had to run in PE my feet would hurt. I told my mother and she bought me new shoes but it did not help. My feet would mostley hurt in my arches. It felt like I steped on something and it stabed me. I use to get charlie horses in the calfs of both legs.  Now that I'm older (44) my feet still cause me pain. Some days my feet hurt on top and it feels like I fractured my foot. It hurts to wear shoes, or to walk. Some swelling and hurts to be touched. This past winter my feet have started to cramp and get charlie horses. I get charlie horses in the bottom of both feet and in my toes, the charlie horse pulls my toes down like a curle. It hurts like heck. when my feet get cold they will start doing the charlie horse thing. I can't even walk bare footed on my kitchen floor. I wear socks to bed and I still get woke up by charlie horses  in my feet. The other day I was riding with my mom in her truck and a charlie horse started in my right foot, I could feel it pulling and I moved my leg and oh my gosh the charlie horse went up into the calf of my leg. I said ouch, in pain. My mom said are you okay? I said i will be in a few min. She started to pull of the road i said no I will be okay, talking out of pain. So it did go away but it was sore. Then this past week end I was swimming and got a charlie horse in the calf of my leg and I could not swim. I was in deep water and I grabed onto the boat and started crying. My daughter of 13, said mom are you okay? I said no. So my husband and mother had to rescue me. I told them I would be okay. So needless to say I did not get back in the water without a life jacket. On top of all this I just found out I have RA and my hands and fore arms have had a flare-up. My hands hurt so bad holding on to the boat. I was in alot of pain. Does anyone know what causes charlie horses or what I should to to ease the pain? Could it be RA? Could I have had RA as a child and not know it? Sorry so long. Thanks for reading, Tammy