Try walking with a cane in the hand opposite your painful knee for a few days. This reduces the weight-bearing forces across your sore joint by 30 to 50 percent. Rest the joint by avoiding activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. Squatting, kneeling, and walking up or down hills cause you to place weight on your bent knees. That can aggravate your pain.
Ice can be of benefit for the acute pain.
Apply ice wrapped in a cloth towel for no more than 20 minutes several times a day. Cold is preferable to heat for the first few days because it reduces swelling and inflammation and speeds healing. Heat is usually best for chronic pain. It can also help relieve stiffliess and prepare your muscles for strengthening exercises. Compress the knee joint with an elastic bandage until the swelling subsides.