Nail again

So last week I took my cat to the vet and something happened to his back paw. The vet said the nail was cracked in the middle and so it split all the way to the quick. I presumed they would have taken care of it before handing my cat back to me but... it seems they didn't. He was handed back to me bleeding severely and also... it seems now.. without the toe being checked. After getting the bleeding undercontrol. I have had him in an e-collar. He is getting anti biotics and it doesn't seem to be infected.

I am set to take the e-collar off this Saturday (1 week since the injury) and hopefully he won't be able to open it back up again. 

However, he will not allow me to look at his paw.  Though I can see nails sticking out sideways and such, I can't get near the paw without a massive hiss. And my cat doesn't hiss.  But it is unclear what the situation is. As his entire paw has dried blood on it and styptic (which I have tried to get off) and it is possible the nail is just "glued" on due to that. 

Questions 

(1) Is this just to be expected that it will hurt for a few weeks? It doesn't seem to hurt him when he touches it, when he walks, or if I put water on the paw (I am trying to bathe it but he won't let me touch it). In fact I was able to look at it better when it was first done. He is able to walk, jump, stand on my bed with me... without seeming that it hurts at all. 

(2) should I just leave it be until he seems more receptive to my touching it...  and then try to inspect it or cut as necessary?

(3) should just not leave it to him entirely and not really get involved.

(4) I am worried that the old toe is still attached to something and if I take the e-collar off dr. cat could work on the toe and use it to pull the newly formed scab off. Is that unlikely. 

Unfortunately I have to get surgery on my foot this Friday, (karma I guess) and so I don't want to be in the position of limping around on my foot and then having my cat be a bloody mess if he gets at the wound again. 

sorry all this is happening to you and the poor kitty. I would, however, definitely change vets. What did they say you should do about the nail?

I would leave it alone and hope it heals. Even if he is able to lick it, it might promote healing. 

You probably will laugh. Last night I came home and looked at the paw and it looked amazing. Like my cat had "treated" it with his magical licking ability to clean it. But I had put some water on it earlier in the day so I presumed it was that. But this morning... I come upstairs while my cat is supposedly sleeping... and I see him licking his paw with the e collar on. He had manipulated himself into such a position that he could lick it even with the e-collar on. But I still can't touch it without hissing.

I am leaving the e-collar on to dissuade him from really going at it... but cats are so genius.

I sent an e-mail to my vet. SHOCKING. No response.  I am sure when I get a response it will be something annoying where she suggests she can't possibly tell me anything without a visit. Mo money; mo money.