Bicep Tendonitis - how long to wait before lifting again?

[Burdzthewurd]

Hey guys, I had a strain in my left bicep that really bothered me starting last Friday, to the point where I felt sharp pain if I flinched the wrong way, and my upper back shoulder felt tense as well. It's a week later and I've iced it multiple times a day, switched the shower water back and forth from hot to cold (read that was a good thing to try on WebMD, might be wrong), massaged my arm/shoulders with Aspercreme 2x a day and hit the whirlpool a few times later in the week. I feel fine for the most part now, but how much would you suggest, if any, much longer should I stay away from lifting, or a better ?, how long of a break have any of you taken in previous times to minor injuries/strains?