foot pain mean surgery ...soon?

I went to my regular doctor over a month ago for foot pain. I have pain when I walk long distances, or wear certain shoes. I've tried all kinds of shoes. I've been walking around, hiking now and again, and attempting crossfit and other exercises. I just want to not hurt.  Anyway, He said my arches have collapsed and an orthotic for my shoes  might do the trick and referred me to a podiatrist. I finally got in to see one about a month later . He saw my foot and said oh, how long has it been like that? Well my whole life.   I have flat feet. Anyway he took some x-rays and saw that I have degenerative arthritis in my right foot, and a CT would tell him how bad it was. 

I got the CT done the next day and was back today for a followup.  in addition to the bad joints,  I also have a nonunion fracture of the second metatarsal bone. basically a fracture on top of the arthritis. he wants to fuse both first and second metatarsal to the cuneiform. I won't be able to bear weight on my foot for 6-8 weeks. there is a chance the bones won't fuse, or the pain won't go away, normal risks in this surgery. I just about cried

I am not in chronic pain, but it can be unbearable when it acts up. at this point I am schedules for surgery August 1, just 12 days before I report back to work (school). Students return on August 19.  

So do I do it now? or wait  and try orthotics? Pain is in my future no matter what.  

If you look at the right edge of the picture you see a line, near the pencil. there should be a line like that on the left side of the pencil too. Where my big toe is,  from left to right it counts 1-2-3-4-5. the metatarsals are the long bones, the cuneiform are the small ones under the long ones, closer to the ankle. so I would have a pin and plate for both 1 and 2 bones.