Prof. M.D. Ufuk Topuz

After a decade of failed treatments for my trigeminal neuralgia, I was bedridden and hopeless. Dr. Topuz didn't just see another chronic pain patient—he saw the person I used to be. His approach was unlike anything I'd encountered: instead of just increasing medication, he performed a precise radiofrequency ablation at Acibadem Taksim. The procedure itself was almost elegant in its simplicity under his hands. Three months later, I'm gardening again. He gave me back seasons I thought I'd only watch through windows.

Our 8-year-old daughter developed complex regional pain syndrome after a seemingly minor ankle sprain. Pediatric pain specialists were scarce, and her fear of doctors was immense. Dr. Topuz transformed his consultation room into a space of calm—no white coats, gentle explanations using her stuffed animals as 'patients.' His nerve block technique was so minimally invasive she asked if that was 'the whole thing.' He treated the child, not just the condition. We're now managing with a fraction of the medication, and she's back at ballet. His empathy with children is a rare gift.

I arrived at Acibadem Taksim via emergency transfer after a workplace fall left me with debilitating spinal pain and neurological symptoms. Dr. Topuz was the on-call specialist that night. What struck me wasn't just his immediate competence in arranging an urgent epidural steroid injection to reduce inflammation, but how he explained each step during a moment of sheer panic. He mapped out a recovery pathway right there in the ER—not just for the next hour, but for the next year. His emergency intervention prevented what could have been permanent damage. He's a crisis artist.

As a retired orchestra conductor, my cervical stenosis was stealing my ability to conduct. Routine checkups elsewhere always ended with 'live with it.' Dr. Topuz reviewed my MRI with the focus of a master studying a score. 'Your C6-C7 is the problematic movement,' he said, mimicking conducting with his hands to show the biomechanics. His recommendation wasn't immediate surgery but a carefully sequenced plan: targeted nerve blocks first, then physical therapy he personally coordinated with a specialist who understood musicians. At my follow-up, he asked me to demonstrate the conducting motion that hurt most—then adjusted the treatment accordingly. He treats the whole life, not just the anatomy.