I am so glad that you feel you are back on the road to a healthy response to this problem. First about your finger. Soreness around the knuckle and a little above has nothing to do with how herpetic whitlow presents. Whitlow by definition is lesions on the finger and as we’ve talked about how these lesions are usually blisters that are tender. I certainly think that starting a new yoga class could cause your hands to be tender if you’re using them in the exercises of the yoga class. I have not seen anyone autoinoculate themselves on their hand or anywhere else after having HSV-2 for years.
My suggestions about washing or lack of washing apply whether there is an outbreak or shedding at the time that your hand touches the genital area. Soaps destroy the lipid layer around the virus whether there are obvious lesions present or only viral shedding is occurring. I think it is important that you do not over wash your hands. Over washing can become a bad habit and we don’t want that to happen with you.
Terri