Dr. EMİNE ÇİĞDEM KIRÇİÇEĞİ ÇİÇEKDAĞ

As a 72-year-old retired mariner with chronic phantom limb pain after a leg amputation 40 years ago, I had tried every treatment imaginable. Dr. Çiçekdağ didn't just see me as another pain patient; she understood the psychological weight of carrying decades of discomfort. Her unique combination of targeted nerve blocks and mindfulness techniques specifically tailored for phantom sensations gave me my first pain-free night in four decades. She treated the sailor, not just the symptom.

My 14-year-old daughter, a competitive gymnast, developed complex regional pain syndrome after a minor ankle sprain. We saw six specialists who dismissed it as 'growing pains.' Dr. Çiçekdağ was the first to truly listen to her description of 'burning ice' sensations. She created a pediatric-friendly rehabilitation plan involving graded motor imagery and aquatic therapy. Within three months, my daughter was back on the beam, and Dr. Çiçekdağ became her personal hero.

After surviving a major motorcycle accident, I lived with debilitating neuropathic pain that made even clothing unbearable. Dr. Çiçekdağ pioneered a novel approach for me: combining pulsed radiofrequency ablation with a carefully monitored topical ketamine gel regimen. She didn't just follow protocols; she innovated based on my specific nerve injury patterns. I went from being bedridden to completing a 5K walk for charity.

As an 83-year-old with severe spinal stenosis and multiple comorbidities, I was told I wasn't a candidate for any intervention. Dr. Çiçekdağ designed a 'micro-procedure' strategy—tiny, staggered epidural injections over months instead of one aggressive treatment. Her patience and incremental approach allowed my frail body to heal gradually. She gave me back the ability to tend to my rose garden, which means everything at my age.