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Eddie W. has persistent pain across the forearm and elbow (the brachialis area). Rest is not the solution and continued workouts are possible as the pain diminishes with each consecutive set. What's up?

Sounds like typical tendinitus to me -inflammation of the bicep tendon. Here are 10 do's and don'ts to work around the injury.

1. Always warm up: slow, light weight and meticulous reps, focused on the pain. Increase weight carefully, do not overload, work in the 10 rep range for a smooth pumping action.

2. Keep warm and avoid temperature changes. Wear warm clothes and avoid drafts.

3. Don't do preacher curls. Notorious for causing this mean condition....bench position too rigid for natural skeletal/muscle function. Eventually catches up with you.

4. Abbreviate curl movements. Don't overextend the long head of the bicep.

5. Use bent bar and dumbbells to avoid aggravating the inflamed tendon. The straight bar curl is irresistible but rotates hands and consequently elbows and biceps outward, overstressing tendons and dangerously altering joint tracking margins.

6. Don't exaggerate the curl by rotating weight up and over the deltoids, thereby risking elbow separation.

7. Sometimes deadlifts or rows or chins with full extension are the source of the injury. Be attentive as you train your other bodyparts.

8. How's your nutrition? Minerals/trace minerals and complete protein play a big role in joint and tendon health.

9. Are you overtraining? Look for other O.T. symptoms. Rest and TLC are miracle ingredients some of us deny. Take ibuprophen when appropriate, ice if necessary.

10. Some hope - it's not unusual to wake up one morning and find the pain gone - like a fever that runs it's course.