Op. MD. Ridvan Acikalin

My 8-year-old son, Efe, developed sudden, severe headaches that made him scream. We rushed to Medical Park Mersin in a panic. Dr. Ridvan Acikalin was the on-call neurosurgeon. He didn't just look at the scans; he knelt down to Efe's eye level, spoke to him about his favorite cartoon characters to calm him, and explained the brain like it was a spaceship control room. He diagnosed a rare arachnoid cyst that was causing pressure. His surgery was minimally invasive, just a tiny incision. Efe was drawing pictures of 'Dr. Ridvan's magic hands' two days later. The doctor's blend of supreme technical skill and profound humanity turned our nightmare into a story of hope. We are forever grateful.

As a 72-year-old retired teacher with progressive numbness in my legs, I'd seen several doctors who dismissed it as 'old age.' Dr. Acikalin was different. During my routine consultation, he spent an hour reviewing my old MRI scans I brought, comparing them pixel by pixel on his screen. He identified spinal stenosis that others missed, but he was adamant about trying non-surgical options first, a tailored physio plan he designed himself. For six months, he monitored me with the patience of a scholar. When surgery became necessary, he performed a complex lumbar decompression with such precision that I was walking the corridor the next morning. He treats the person, not just the MRI. A true maestro of the spine.

This is not a review; it's a testimony. I was in a major traffic accident, brought to Medical Park Mersin unconscious with a traumatic brain injury. My family was told to prepare for the worst. Dr. Acikalin took me into emergency surgery at 3 AM. My wife says he emerged hours later, not with arrogance, but with quiet, exhausted certainty, explaining the intricate hematoma evacuation he performed. My recovery was long, but his follow-up was relentless. He'd visit on weekends, adjust rehab plans based on the slightest progress, and once, he noticed a subtle change in my speech I hadn't, a sign of improvement he celebrated more than we did. He didn't just save a life; he meticulously rebuilt a person. His skill is a cold, hard fact; his care is a warm, living force.

I'm a 45-year-old software engineer with a 'textbook' lumbar herniated disc. I expected a quick, assembly-line consultation. What I got from Dr. Acikalin was a fascinating, almost philosophical discussion. He used a 3D model of my spine to show me exactly what was happening, then presented three detailed pathways: aggressive intervention, conservative management, and a hybrid approach. He outlined the 10-year projection for each, including risks like adjacent segment disease that no one else mentioned. He encouraged me to go home, research, and come back with questions. I chose the hybrid (a microdiscectomy). The surgery was flawless, but what stunned me was the post-op. He gave me a specific, geek-friendly protocol for returning to my desk job, monitoring my posture via emailed photos. He's a neurosurgeon who thinks like an engineer and cares like a healer.