I developed tendonitis myself in my left elbow..the pain wasn't intolerable and I kept lifitng..after awhile I grew tired of the aggravation and decided to rest and cut...so I dropped 16 lbs and shrunk musculary a good bit..I hit the weights after a 2 week layoff(in the between time the tendonitis didn't improve,it wasn't as bad as the day after lifting,but I still had some pain with even casual movements such as moving a full pot off the stove)..so after 2 weeks I went lifting about once a week...still not much different as when I completely laid off for 2 weeks..so finally I made an appointment with rehab doc...he did some xrays and tole me I had tendonitis and it would not heal on its own even with complete rest..he gave me some valdecoxib and said to lay off for 2 weeks and take the pills...I'll go back in 2 weeks and if it hasn't noticeably improved he will give me a cortizone shot..so I guess I'm telling you to make an appointmnet and get some meds..he also told me to take shark cartilage,chondroitin,glucosamine and MSM..this doc was big on herbs and we chatted about milk thistle,ALA etc..he said he drinks and he takes those for their liver protective benefits..so now I'm going to the beach this weekend and I'd really like to lift some just to tighten up..though it is nice to be back at a 32" waist at least