pinky problems...

i've been doing some lead practice with metallica's 'one' aside from the beginner's lessons on GT. this gave my pinky a workout... my pinky feels, well, weird. after practicing the same lead over and over, the fluidity became lost a little bit, and i couldn't do the same pinky moves with other leads i've practiced previously. i want to play some more, however, i'm afraid i'll overwork my pinky (or my hand) and give myself joint problems or something. should i lay off for a bit until it goes away?

i found some advice here...

what do you guys think? i mean, it doesn't hurt, there's just some tension at the base of the finger. i'm worried that the more i practice, they more it'll get worse. maybe i should let it heal and become stronger before i start playing again?

IT sounds like your pinky is just getting tired. Sometimes when I practice my pinky will lose strength and I can't play a riff as well as I did an hour ago.

Could just be that your pinky got a workout. When you lift weights you get to a stage where your muscles are pumped with blood and feel swollen. It also becomes difficult do do simple things, like turn on a tap, when you get like that. Might be the same kinda thing.

I've been riding a mountain bike for about eight years, my hands and fingers are a lot stronger from continually pulling on the handlebars