Extreme thigh and shin pain

Hi, hope somebody can help...I injured my right inner knee about 8 weeks ago whilst out running. I was running down a steep decline and it began to feel very painful and hot. I didn,t seek treatment. The inner side of my knee was painful to touch for about 2 weeks. I then went back out running but the problem returned after about 2 miles. My knee was stiff and painful. It was painful trying to go up stairs. Next the front of my thigh began to ache from the right inner side out and accross to my hip. Recently the pain has become unbearable with shooting pains going up my thigh and down my shin bone. The pain is now worse and going into my right buttock even whilst sitting. I can barely walk and have been limping for past 3 weeks. At the Doctors today. He got me to lie on my back. He asked me to raise my right leg. The pain inside my thigh was extreme and agoninsing. I can hardly lift my right leg to ascend stairs. Without painkillers I would be in agony. He has arranged for physio but I will have to wait. Should I be resting or trying some leg exercises. The doctor seems unsure about what is causing the pain as there is no obvious swelling. The knee now feels better although mild pain is felt at the front of the kneecap when walking

I suggest paying for a private physiotherapy assessment while you are waiting. A good manual therapist should be able to diagnose your injury and set you on the right path pretty easily. By the sounds of your description you issue may well involve a number of structures, some soft tissue and perhaps some neural. No need for an MRI, just get a good hands on person who will give you a good one hour of their time.

I agree, seek help and get your knee, hip, back and neural structures examined as Bob indicated.
The Straight leg raise your doctor asked you to do being so painful indicates that some neural component is involved and thus likely neural glides and manual therapy of the spine would be beneficial.
My thought was how did this come about. Originally it started just in the knee and then started to spread. I would keep in the back of your mind that a biomechanical issue from the foot/ankle may have been the original cause and the tibial torsion and associated imbalances have travelled up into the spine to cause the problem you now see. It of course highly possible the problem came from the knee or back originally - Hence the reason to seek someone skilled to give you a 45min to hour assessment and initiate some treatment.

Puddin' :)