I am inserting my usual feminine exhortations against the "no pain no gain" macho point of view that seems to permeate this forum all too often.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO HURT. Learning to play guitar is hard enough without putting yourself through that BS. Get yourself a Musician's Practice Glove. Problem solved. And ignore everyone who tells you it has to hurt. It doesn't.

And play on! Wonderful things await.