I still have both original knees.
I havebeen threatening the right knee when it acts up.

Here is my contribution
1996 I had a torn ACL, left knee repaired.
Much PT as one would expect.

What I observed in PT was that the knee replacement patients seemed to have an easier, less painful time during PT than I did with my ACL.
Makes no sense to me, but there it is.

OP, I wouldl say have the surgery.