Leigh,
I feel sorry for you but as the saying goes, the greater the effort, the greater the reward. This is NOT to say that you should keep getting yourself hurt. :)
If I were in your shoes, I would do everything to help protect my fingers (hand) while working. Surgical gloves are out of the question for they would melt and break in no time. I don't think that work gloves would help you in feeling the parts that you need to work and get close to because they would be too thick and loose; therefore, I would be making my way to a men's store that carries high level leather thin single layer gloves that fit skin tight. You'll need that thickness of skin to protect your hand. Get them to fit really tight because they will stretch a little with the work but in time they well feel just like your hand. Give it a few days to a week to adjust and you'll have to put up for yourself a note to remind you to take them off before you go to the bathroom and wash your hands.
Jarrett,
Maybe you could buy a football, get it autographed and give that as a present to your Mother-In-Law?
Liad Bar-EL