I have bad knees - patellar tendonitis (and other similar stuff I'm sure) and have had orthos recommend nothing but physical therapy, which was similarly frustrating. I used to wear a brace on my right knee, and sometimes on my left knee, about 50% of the time just to walk around in comfortably. Since I started riding regularly (5+ times a week - mostly commuting) I almost never wear one.

I would say (given that this is just BF advice) - for a few days try keeping your cadence up higher than normal and try putting your seat up and/or back just a tad, ride easier, and don't climb out of the saddle too much. I actually had severe pain in my left knee (on the front outside tendon both above and below the kneecap) a couple weeks ago after doing some extra climbing miles and took a few days off. It all felt better until I started riding harder again. Then I remembered about a month ago I'd changed out my saddle and I never made too many other adjustments since changing it. It's flatter than my old one so I decided I needed to move it up a bit, and back. My left knee has been much better since, although my right knee has had some discomfort - I suspect now my right leg is probably shorter or has less flexibility than my left. But I digress...