M.D. Hamdi Tüfekçi

My 82-year-old mother, who has severe spinal stenosis, was in constant agony. We'd seen several doctors who just prescribed stronger pills. Dr. Tüfekçi was different. He spent an hour just listening to her describe the pain—not just 'where,' but 'how it feels.' He called it 'neuropathic mapping.' Instead of another risky surgery, he performed a series of targeted pulsed radiofrequency ablations. It wasn't a magic cure, but for the first time in years, she can sit through dinner without tears. His approach wasn't about eliminating pain entirely, but about giving her back moments of peace. The dignity he showed her was as important as the treatment.

Our 9-year-old son developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) after a seemingly minor ankle sprain. His foot was swollen, discolored, and he screamed if a sheet touched it. Pediatricians were baffled. Dr. Tüfekçi created a multi-modal plan that felt like a mission. It involved a precise sympathetic nerve block (he explained it to our son using a 'circuit breaker' analogy), followed by a strict desensitization protocol with a specialized physiotherapist. He coordinated with our child's school nurse. The turning point was when Dr. Tüfekçi high-fived our son for tolerating a sock for 5 minutes. He treated the fear, not just the foot. Six months on, our boy is back playing football.

I was admitted through the ER at 3 AM with a sudden, excruciating 'thunderclap' headache and neck pain—a suspected vertebral artery dissection. The neurologist was managing the stroke risk, but the pain was unbearable, preventing any rest. Dr. Tüfekçi was consulted. He didn't just order a stronger IV drip. He performed a bedside ultrasound-guided greater occipital nerve block with absolute precision, despite my distress. The relief was almost instantaneous, allowing me to finally lie still for the crucial MRI. His intervention was a critical piece in a terrifying puzzle. He explained later how uncontrolled pain can worsen vascular outcomes. In an emergency, he was both a technician and a calm strategist.

As a software engineer with chronic tension-type headaches and TMJ disorder, I'd tried everything: physio, bite guards, meditation. My case was 'routine' but stubborn. Dr. Tüfekçi approached it like debugging a complex system. He used diagnostic botulinum toxin injections to specific mastication and cranial muscles, not as a treatment, but as a 'diagnostic probe.' It identified two specific muscles as the primary culprits. He then designed a regimen of very specific myofascial release techniques and retraining my jaw posture at the computer. He was fascinated by the ergonomics of my workstation. It was a collaborative, analytical process. I'm not 'cured,' but I now have a user manual for my own pain, which is empowering.