Hand position as it relates to the fret board:
If I'm not mistaken, classical guitar players are trained to be sure that their hand position/fingers are parallel with the frets and with the thumb tip only touching the back/round of the neck.
This allows for more 'slack' for the fingers to fret complex patterns and notes.
I typical rock guy (take Jimmy Page) will grip the neck in more of a 'bat' style and the hand and fingers are at a slight angle in relation to the frets.
Why mention this?
Worth trying...
As guitar players, we all have physical limitations we have to work around. Even the greats.
I don't have Steve Vai's long digits so I have to find ways of fretting different than him. I have a stubborn pinky that does not like speedy, ascending 1-3-4 patterns. Just doesn't. No matter how much I practiced.
So I found a way to work around it. 1-3-4 but with my other three fingers or I do a small legato slide up '1-3-slide 4'. Gives it a little flavor too.
Some times these thing make your style.
I always felt dumb because my pinky was a rogue finger...Then I read that Brian May almost never uses his pinky and I love his playing.
Sometimes the deficits can work out for you because you have to find a way around it.