If you want a stable knee and want to lead an active life without risk of instability or falling then yes surgery is the only option

Surgery is the correct and only option While you can choose not to have the surgery, deficiency of ACL ligament will have detrimental effect on your knee

You can start PHYSIOTHERAPY and see how much movements you can regain of your knee Do icing and let the swelling reduce I feel at the age of 34 years where you are so young you should get operated as now a days Acl surgery is minimally invasive and can be easily done in one hour and you can go home the next day However if you don’t wish to get operated then you will need to really go to a good physiotherapist and get your knee muscles strengthened and after that if you are able to run and have no feeling of giving way of the knee you can consider putting off surgery for few years with knowing the risks that some time later you may get a meniscus which is the cushion of the knee tear due to fall

Surgery will give better result