I should have been a bit more clear I went away 6 week ago the rest of my fingers are fine and done exactly what you have mensioned with the flakey skin and stuff. my fingers arn't sore its just my index finger won't harden which is now 6 weeks on. someone told me to put my fingers in viniger 10 minutes before I play each day for 1 week . Has anybody tried this. Its bad enough when you fingers smell of fish I don't think I fancey viniger. hehe