Dr. Gökçen Erol

After my paragliding accident left me with a complex Lisfranc fracture and severe ligament damage, multiple surgeons told me I'd never run again. Dr. Erol was my last hope. She didn't just see a broken foot—she saw the marathon runner inside. Her rehabilitation plan was unlike anything I'd encountered: a bizarre but brilliant combination of aquatic therapy in the hospital's pool, proprioceptive training on unstable surfaces that felt like playground equipment, and something she called 'neuromuscular re-education' that made my brain and foot reconnect. Six months later, I'm not just walking—I completed a 10K. She's a wizard who speaks the secret language of movement.

My 8-year-old daughter developed a mysterious limp that baffled three pediatric specialists. Dr. Erol spent an entire appointment just watching her play with toys on the floor, noticing how she favored one side when reaching. She diagnosed a subtle hip rotation issue from an old, forgotten playground fall. Instead of intimidating equipment, her treatment involved turning our living room into a 'therapy adventure'—pillow forts to crawl through, sock-skating on hardwood floors, and a treasure hunt game that secretly strengthened weak muscles. My daughter calls her 'the play doctor' and asks when we can go back. She healed my child without her ever realizing she was in treatment.

At 78, I resigned myself to becoming a prisoner in my own home due to crippling osteoarthritis. My previous rehab felt like factory processing—identical exercises for every elderly patient. Dr. Erol's approach was shockingly personal. She visited my apartment, analyzed how I navigated my narrow bathroom and high bed, and created a 'life-specific' rehabilitation plan. She taught me how to use my grandson's abandoned skateboard as a mobility aid in the kitchen, modified my favorite armchair with strategic cushions, and designed exercises around my daily tea ritual. I didn't just regain movement—I reclaimed my independence. She treats the person, not just the pathology.

Following emergency spinal surgery for a herniated disc that left me with foot drop and numbness, I was terrified I'd be permanently disabled. My post-op rehabilitation with Dr. Erol felt more like forensic detective work than traditional therapy. She used thermal imaging to map areas of poor circulation, employed tiny vibrating devices to 'wake up' dormant nerves, and created a bizarrely effective home program involving walking barefoot on different textured mats I made from household items. Her explanations were crystal clear—she drew diagrams showing how neural pathways were rerouting. The numbness has receded like a slow tide, and my foot now responds to commands I thought were lost forever. She doesn't just follow protocols; she engineers recoveries.