If your hands hurt, it definitely means they are bearing too much weight. That can be for a number of reasons. Certainly they could be too low (I too like my bars level with my saddle) or too far away, as has been mentioned. Your saddle could be tiliting down, throwing your weight on your bars. Your balance on the bike also could be off, you may need to move both the saddle back and the bars closer/higher (but this also depends on your KOPS position which the LBS should have looked at). Lastly, you may need to develop the abdominal and back strength needed for a drop bar bike. Think of your bars as a resting place, not a place that should be supporting your body. I think a visit to your LBS is in order.