Okay so for as long as I can remember I've been a chronic cracker! I was in a car accident a few years back, damaging my neck and back.. So I know why I crack my neck and back… But since birth I've always cracked my knuckles, toes, and ankles. I was diagnosed with kohler's disease when i was a kid, and wore a leg brace and cast for a year around the age of 7. but ive been reading into it lately and i either no longer have it or was mis-diagnosed... because its symptoms are not what i'm having. what i'm experiencing is pain and stiffness in my ankles, feels like its coming from my ankles on the inner sides. also, my toes and knuckles/fingers will get real stiff and start to hurt if i dont crack them regularly. it used to be every now and again... but in the last couple years i've been having to do it as soon as i wake up like clockwork. and several times during the day. my questions are:

is this normal?
does everyone deal with this?
are you having similar symptoms?
have you been diagnosed with something and it sounds like this?
do i have kind of disease or disorder?
if so, is it serious?
any suggestions for relief besides cracking?

Thanks,
Ashlie