Hey guys, this has been bugging me on a sleepless night. Anyways I am currently going through a small problem here. I am having problems with the palm of my hands, I feel like they are too uncomfortable after a certain period of time. I honestly feel that it is my handlebar height, I do not have enough steerer tube. I have come up with a few different options for myself and I'd appreciate some advice to which is most practical.

Buy the same fork ($80), lbs reinstall race crown and star
Deal with it
Or possibly look into padded cycling gloves? Around 32 at rei

A little about me:
Big time commuter id label myself as, my ride is a surly steamroller built up. I have compact drop bars, and I've been riding for a few years, so I usually have my saddle height/tilt adjusted properly to fit myself comfortably. Now why the short steerer tube?last year I had asked my lbs to cut my steerer tube, and they had gone just a little lower than what I had asked because I was hoping for a little wiggle room. But nope! Just a tad too low, but I'm in shape, flexible and it wasn't too big of a concern. Well about a month later, I was hit by a car and had to take some time off from cycling, I was unmotivated to get back and riding. Fast forward to the present, these last few months I found why I love riding again. Although with a bit of weight gain and not as fit as I was in the past, endurance and flexible, I find that I am having a weight distribution problem which is too low . If I could I know that now would be perfect to raise the bars like I had hope! Anyways, hopefully you guys can help me out with your opinions and advice. Thanks