Place on my leg that looks like bruise, but not a bruise, smh?

[Peace2yaa]

I have a place on my leg, that at first I thought was small bruise. But it's not a bruise. As I get older, it get bigger and has spread up my lower leg toward my knee. The skin feels really weird and sometimes it itches like crazy. If I accidentally hit it or slightly bump it, it hurts for hours and if I accidentally cut while shaving, the blood is really dark. I saw a nurse practitioner about 3 years ago at the ER (I had bumped it and it hurts like crazy) and she said it was  rash and gave me allergy medicine. Didn't help. Then I asked my family Dr. when I finally got one and she said that she "thought" she knew what it was called and gave me some kind of steroid to take and that didn't work. Should I be asking for a blood test or something? I now have a spot on the back of my right leg that is is the same, so it has spread to other leg now. What is this and should I be worried? Also, I cannot stand for long cause this makes my legs ache horribly. I have pictures of the places but don't know where to show them. Any help or advice. It's not a rash, I know this.

[Harv_c]

I see you have not gotten an answer from a medical person here, so I am going to give it a shot and I expect you to do some research for comparisons.
I think it is Erysipelas.  This occurs when a streptococcus bacteria penetrates the outer layer of skin.  This bacteria normally will live on/in your skin without causing too much harm, but could give you fever, chills, painful area and even blisters.  But mostly results in large, raised red patches.  This is also similar to cellulitis, which is an infection in the lower skin layers.
It is treatable with antibiotics, but of course you will need to get a doctor to agree and prescribe the correct one.

[Peace2yaa]

I thank you so very much! No, no one had has told me what it might be. I had a nurse practitioner tell me once that it was nothing but a rash and she gave me a script for Claritin and sent me home, but I knew it was no rash. Every once in a great while it will itch a little bit around the edges, but what bothers me most, especially here lately, is that if it's touch with any amount of pressure, it hurts so very bad and the pain will last for a couple of hours. If it gets nicked while shaving, it will bleed and bleed and the color of the blood is darker than normal. I had another ANP tell me that she THOUGHT that she knew what it was but couldn't remember the name of it, and then gave me some kind of steroid to take for 7 days, but that didn't help it either. Now she is sending me to a dermatologist too have it looked at. I will certainly do some research and I will definitely get back with you and let you know what I find out. Again thank you!

[Harv_c]

I think if you look at Erysipelas on the internet you can figure out if you think it is a match.  There are images there as well.  If so, an antibiotic is the only cure.  Hopefully the dermatologist will know exact.