Prof. M.D. Nigar Baykan

As a 78-year-old with debilitating spinal stenosis, I'd seen several pain specialists who only offered temporary steroid injections. Dr. Baykan approached my case differently. She spent 45 minutes in our first consultation at Acibadem Altunizade, not just examining my MRI but asking about my gardening hobby and how the pain prevented me from weeding. Her 'gentle rhizotomy' procedure wasn't just technically impressive—she explained each step in simple Turkish, and her nurse held my hand throughout. Three months later, I'm tending my roses again. She treats the person, not just the pain.

Our 9-year-old daughter developed complex regional pain syndrome after a seemingly minor ankle sprain. The pediatricians were baffled by her escalating pain. Dr. Nigar Baykan created a child-friendly pain management plan that felt like a game—color-coded pain scales, a 'bravery chart' with stickers at the hospital, and gentle desensitization techniques she taught us. She knelt to eye-level with our daughter, speaking softly about 'turning down the volume' on her nervous system. The transformation from a child who couldn't bear sock-contact to one riding her scooter again is nothing short of miraculous. Her pediatric pain expertise is extraordinary.

I arrived at the emergency department at 2 AM with acute trigeminal neuralgia—what patients call 'the suicide disease.' The pain was so severe I was vomiting. Dr. Baykan was called in urgently and performed an emergency nerve block within the hour. What stood out was her calm intensity: she explained the procedure quickly but thoroughly despite the emergency setting, and her technique was so precise the relief was immediate. Her follow-up care involved a novel medication rotation schedule she handwritten for me, adjusting for my specific kidney function. She turned my worst night into manageable living.

Following a complex spinal fusion surgery elsewhere, I developed failed back surgery syndrome with chronic neuropathic pain. Dr. Baykan's approach was methodical and multidisciplinary. She didn't just offer another procedure; she coordinated with my physiotherapist, designed a personalized neuromodulation trial, and even suggested specific mattress adjustments. During my six-month follow-up, she remembered minute details about my job as a musician and how certain positions affected my pain. Her holistic strategy reduced my opioid use by 70%. She's not just intervening—she's rebuilding lives systematically.