Knee injury help!

Ok, 13yo dd fell hard on her kneecap at school.  Her knee is now swollen and quite painful.  It appears to me that her kneecap is slightly out of alignment, but that could be the swelling.  I've given her some ibuprofen and a packet of frozen peas to put on her knee.  (More moldable than an ice pack!)

So...do you think I need to take her in for x-rays?  Should I wait and see how things progress over the next couple of days?  I'm in the states for about another week and of course have NO insurance (), but if I'm likely causing permanent injury by NOT having her seen right away I'll run her right in.  We do have a pair of crutches and a 'soft' knee brace so we can stabilise her knee and keep her off it...

Blah...

Poor kid.  I busted my knee pretty good ages ago and let it go for a few days. It didn't hurt it any, didn't make it any better either though, but i don't know what i'd do in your place.  No insurance sucks.  Maybe see how it is tomorrow and if its still really swollen or hurting worse take her in.  It might be better over night.  Sending positive healing vibes her way

That sucks... knee injuries are so tricky to figure out.  Honestly, if the swelling isn't any better by tomorrow afternoon I'd probably take her in just to make sure she didn't break anything.  Especially if she can't walk on it.  Not what you want to hear, I know.

Fingers crossed she's better in the morning.

If it's not getting better, I would take her in to have it x-rayed.

But just to say, I have broken my kneecap, and the treatment was to put it one of the soft knee stabilizers, and stay on crutches.

However if it looks misaligned there could be some other damage.

Are there free walk-in clinics where you are? I know they had them when I lived in RI. But all they'd probably do is give her crutches, which you already have, so ...

Yes, I meant to say...if you do go in to the doctor, bring the crutches and brace you have. If they can be reused (right size and all) at least that is one less thing you will be charged for. I sprained my ankle last year and had to pay for a new pair of crutches at the hospital (not cheap!) when I had a perfectly good pair at my mom's house.