How do you manage knee pain?

The best ways to manage knee pain depend on why the pain is there, though in many cases, the cause of knee pain isn’t immediately clear. For non-urgent situations, acetaminophen, rest, and a cool compress are good first steps. When the knee pain represents an emergency (such as following major trauma, when there’s knee swelling and fever, or there’s an inability to bear weight) the person with knee pain should seek medical attention right away. 
Some of the more common causes and initial treatments of knee pain include:
•    Osteoarthritis – exercise, loss of excess weight, topical anti-inflammatory pain relievers or capsaicin
•    Noninfectious bursitis – exercise, loss of excess weight, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injection
•    Tendinitis – rest and ice, followed by exercise, physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication or acetaminophen
•    Rheumatoid arthritis – anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications, exercise, physical therapy, cortisone injections 
•    Gout – anti-inflammatory medications (when gout attack begins), cortisone injection, long-term medication to lower uric acid (such as allopurinol)