Every so often (3 times today, a couple yesterday) I get a shooting pain that starts about 1/3 of the way up my right shin (at the front) and goes down the top of my foot and ends in my fourth toe.

It's a really sharp pain and is quite shocking when it happens. My leg flinches from the pain of it. Followed by a sharp intake of breath and an "Ow!" from me.

It is ridiculously random and doesn't seem to be caused by any specific movement or anything.

Any ideas?

It sounds a lot like cramp. How are you resting your legs and feet? I get something similar if I'm leaning forward with my toes bent back on the ground, err, it's hard to describe. Can you stretch them out a bit and have a good wiggle now and then?

Shooting pain in your foot? This might be a silly question, but you haven't shot yourself in the foot recently, have you? :etc:

Ok, the serious bit. I agree with JJ.