Get an acoustic. When you can play awesome sounding music of any style on it, you will be ready. I'm still working on this myself.

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My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.

I never really wanted an acoustic though. It'd probably just sit around, collecting dust.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Good Buxom,you followed through.....like most have commented playing clean is a sure fire method to expose any mistake you make,even down to not getting a clean note from not having your finger in the right spot next to the fret.
It's not easy at all,I still practice every night,trying to play clean and full notes with vibrato to increase sustain,pick attack is crucial also and plays a big part in the tone you will get from an amp that's clean and on the threshold of breakup.
Jack Pearson told me that if you don't hit the note hard on the front end,and use controlled vibrato,your sustain will actually be better,when the amp is up and pushed...it's kind of hard to do,but he's a master and can do just about anything on a guitar....little tips and lots of practice will help.
Keep it up,I know you mentioned having an injured left hand,and it might take more work on your part to play clean,but just keep at it.

I could post a picture of how it looks normally. (just regular, flattened)

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Focus on the ring and pinky.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

It's just going to take time and work,keep in mind that some people have overcome some huge physical limitations to play or do everyday things....it can be done.

I got my pinky finger caught working on a generator a while back and broke it in 2 places. certain angles cause it to lock up and it clicks and hurts while trying to do a quick hammer on. it can be quite difficult to work around malfunctioning appendages but it can be done. just don't give up because of that minor detail. just remember Iommi had some hand trouble also even Dave mustaine had to basically re learn the guitar after an injury, you just have to want it

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I actually want to really bad. It's just really hard because I can't do quick notes or anything with these fingers really. I either have to keep them curled in or extended out because they get in the way.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

honestly if it is a major headache you could switch your guitar to a left hand setup. you are still learning so it will be much easier to switch over now than several years down the road. it will be awkward at first but you wont have your fingers in the way. worth a shot. or try some serious hand conditioning exercises.

I streach the crap out of my fingers on my fretting hand with my knee.
I extent my leg out flat. then jam my the part of my leg leg that's rite above the knee between my fingers. then bend my knee, as the leg muscles contract they widen and stretch your fingers apart. now I can fret the first fret and reach the 7th on 25.5 scale and barely the 8th on 24. 3/4

example with the rondo 25.5 LP copy here at work

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Use my legs to exercise my fingers????

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

well stretch them lol you use your leg to force them apart slowly. kinda like stretching your ham string. you cant really pull your fingers apart with 2 hands so you use your leg.

like this




it will hurt a little if you go to far though

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I don't have much flexibility, so I'm kinda scared to do that.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Well never force it. I don't want you to hurt your hand

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Those pictures looked painful too.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Now, that's some bizarre (stuff) dude