Best Spinal Pain Doctors in Turkey for Australians

Dr Celal Salcini co-authored the textbook chapter on spinal cord diseases for Merrit's Neurology, a definitive resource used by medical specialists worldwide.

• Specialises in clinical neurophysiology to accurately diagnose the root cause of chronic spinal pain
• Focuses on the complex organisation of the spine, specifically studying restless legs and nerve conduction
• Expert in electrophysiology, using electrical activity tests to assess nerve and muscle function
• Practises at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital, a centre dedicated to neurological and spinal disorders

Associate Professor Ozdogan Selcuk is a neurosurgery specialist who completed a prestigious clinical fellowship under the guidance of world-renowned neurosurgeon Professor Gazi Yasargil.

• Specialises in spinal surgery and nerve repair at the Estexper Clinic
• Holds a Molecular Medicine Doctorate from Yeditepe University Health Sciences Institute
• Member of the Turkish Spine Association and the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies
• Completed surgical training at Saint Louis University in the United States
• Served as a senior specialist at several major university and research hospitals

Education: 

Degree                       Program                                             University                   Year

Bachelor                     Medical Sciences                               İstanbul University     1995

Master Degree           Medical Sciences                               İstanbul University     1997

Doctorate and expertise in medicine

Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology     İstanbul University     2004

Assistant professor     

İstanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology İstanbul Bilim University        2009

Associate professor

İstanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology İstanbul Bilim University        2011

Clinical Neurophysiology Subspecialty          

İstanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology İstanbul Bilim University        2011

PhD Thesis:

INVESTIGATION OF ANTI-GANGLIOSIDE AND ANTI-GLUTAMIC ACID DECARBOXYLASE ANTIBODIES IN JUDICIAL MYOCLONIC EPILEPSY AND INVESTIGATION OF SUBCLINIC ANTERIOR HORN INVOLVEMENT BY ESTIMATE MOTOR UNIT COUNT METHOD-2002

Experience

Research Assistant 

Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University        1998-2004

Specialist

Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital, Department of Neurology       2004-2009

Assistant Professor

Istanbul Bilim University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology 2009-2011

Assoc. Prof.     

Şişli Florence Nightingale Hospital Department of Neurology 

İstanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital 

Memberships to Scientific Organizations:

Turkish Medical Association

Turkish Neurology Association

Turkish Association for Combating Epilepsy

Turkish Clinical Neurophysiology EEG-EMG Association

Association of Child Neurology and Neuroimmunology

Awards:

Clinical Neurophysiology Congress (Antalya-2013): First prize for the poster paper titled "Continuous Video-EEG Monitoring Findings and Clinical, Laboratory and Imaging Characteristics of Patients Monitored in the Neurology Intensive Care Unit Due to Alertness Defect"

National Epilepsy Congress (Muğla-2012): "Does Semiology Tell Us the Origin of Seizures Consisting Mainly of Alteration of Consciousness?" Kenan Tükel publishing award for his publication

National Epilepsy Congress (Izmir- 2008): First prize in the field of epilepsy congress publications with the publication titled "Reduced axon number in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy demonstrated by motor unit number estimation analysis"

National Epilepsy Congress (Ankara- 2004): First prize in the field of epilepsy congress publication with the publication titled "No association of anti-gm1 and anti-gad antibodies with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy"

Turkish Clinical Neurophysiology EEG-EMG Association, 19th National Clinical Neurophysiology EEG-EMG Congress (Trabzon-2002): Congress publication award for the publication titled "Epileptic seizures in Behçet's disease".

Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council scientific publications incentive award-2002: (With the publication titled "Epileptic Seizures In Behçet's Disease")

Turkish Neurology Association, 38th National Neurology Congress - 2002: Second prize for the oral presentation titled "Investigation of subclinical anterior horn involvement in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy with the estimated motor unit number method".

Turkish Epilepsy Association and Sanofi Pharma Scientific Research Project Support Award - 2001: "Investigation of anti-ganglioside antibodies in juvenile myoclonic epilepsies" thesis project.

Dr Ali Osman Mucuoglu is a neurosurgery specialist at Atlas University Hospital, where he focuses on resolving complex spinal pain through surgical intervention.

• Completed the prestigious Mehmet Zileli Advanced Spinal Surgery Course twice to master complex back and neck procedures
• Specialises in treating cervical extradural schwannomas – nerve sheath tumours that cause significant spinal pain
• Trained in functional neurosurgery with the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies to improve patient nerve function
• Uses minimally invasive surgery techniques to reduce recovery times and postoperative discomfort for spinal patients
• Active member of the Turkish Neurosurgical Society and the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies

Dr. Ulvi Samadzade is a neurologist with training from Azerbaijan State Medical University, Gazi University, and Dokuz Eylul University Hospital. He diagnoses and treats neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, movement disorders, stroke, migraine, and multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Samadzade uses advanced treatments, including botulinum toxin injections, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, migraine vaccines, and plasmapheresis. He practices at İzmir University of Economics Medical Point Hospital.

He is a member of several professional organizations. These include the Multiple Sclerosis Research Association, Turkish Neurological Society, European Academy of Neurology, and the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS).

Associate Professor Burak Eren is a specialist neurosurgeon who focusing on complex spinal conditions. He leads clinical research into why lumbar discs re-herniate and how spinal alignment affects long-term surgical success.

• Treats degenerative spinal diseases including slipped discs and spinal canal stenosis
• Specialises in spinal stabilisation and decompression to relieve chronic nerve pressure
• Authored textbook chapters on managing traumatic thoracolumbar and sacral spinal injuries
• Published research on the role of co-morbidities in surgical recovery for older patients

Prof. Dr. Yasef began his medical education at Istanbul University in 1973 and graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1979. He started his specialization in neurology at the same university in 1980 and became a neurologist in 1985. During his specialty training, he spent 6 months at Hacettepe University in the Neurology Department in Ankara.

After becoming a neurologist, he completed 3.5 years of obligatory government service, spending the first 1.5 years at the Iskenderun Navy Hospital and the next 2 years at Diyarbakır Social Security Hospital. He returned to Istanbul University in 1989.

Prof. Dr. Yasef worked abroad in the United States from 1990 - 1991, focusing on dementia and behavioral neurology.

In 1994, he became an Associate Professor and continued working at Istanbul University until 1999. Between 1999 - 2002, he worked at Florence Nightingale Hospital, and then at Kozyatağı Acıbadem Hospital from 2004 to 2013.

Since 2013, he has been a valuable part of the team at Florence Nightingale Hospital.

Specialties

• Dementia
• Epilepsy
• Headaches

Work Experience

• Military Service at Iskenderun Navy Hospital, 1985 - 1986
• State Service at Diyarbakır S.S.K. Hospital, 1986 - 1989
• Florence Nightingale Hospital, 1999 - 2002
• Kozyatağı Acıbadem Hospital, 2004 - 2013
• Florence Nightingale Hospital (Since 2013)

Dr Alireza Soltanzadeh is a specialist in algology – the field of medicine dedicated to relieving chronic pain through advanced targeted treatments.

• Specialises in pain management at Istanbul Okan University Hospital
• Completed a fellowship in cardiac anaesthesia at Istanbul's Çapa Medical Faculty
• International research focus on ozone therapy for pain relief and patient safety
• Active member of several international anaesthesiology and medical societies
• Fluent in multiple languages including English, German, and Turkish

EDUCATION:

2014 ADNAN MENDERES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE, CHILD HEALTH AND DISEASES, CHILD NEUROLOGY

2011 IZMIR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL, CHILD HEALTH AND DISEASES

2011 Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Child Health and Diseases

2004 DICLE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE

EXPERIENCE:

2018 Istanbul Medipol Hospital

2017 - 2018 Kartal Education and Research Hospital

2014 - 2016 Denizli State Hospital

2011 - 2014 Aydin Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine Hospital

2006 - 2011 Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital

2011Izmir Education and Research Hospital

Areas of Interests

• General Neurology
• Clinical Neurophysiological examinations (Electromyography, evoked potentials, electroencephalography, polysomnography)
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
• Muscle diseases
• Epilepsy
• Headache
• Sleep and sleep disorders
• Migraine botox and botulinum A toxin applications

Education:

• 1980-1985 Atatürk Elementary School
• 1985-1988 Anamur High School
• 1988-1991 Anamur High School
• 1991-1998 Marmara University Faculty of Medicine in English
• 2000- 2004 PTT Education and Research Hospital Neurology Clinic (Medical Specialization Student)
• 2007-2010 Istanbul University Health Sciences Experimental Medicine Research Institute Electroneurophysiology Master's Program
• 2012- Clinical Neurophysiology Sub-branch Specialist

Experiences:

• September 2023-Currently Haliç University Faculty of Medicine, Faculty Member
• January 2023-Currently Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, Department of Neurology
• 2014- August 2023 Bilgi University Health Sciences Vocational School Electroneurophysiology Department, Faculty Member
• 2019- 2022 Ataşehir Private Avicenna Hospital, Neurology Department
• 2009-2018 Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital Neurophysiology Laboratory (Specialist Doctor)
• 2007-2010 Istanbul University Health Sciences Experimental Medicine Research Institute Electroneurophysiology Master's Program
• 2005-2006 Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurology Electrodiagnostics Department EMG Laboratory
• 2000-2004 PTT Education and Research Hospital Neurology Clinic (Specialist Student in Medicine)

Professor Gogusgeren uses microsurgical techniques at Avicenna International Hospital to treat debilitating spinal conditions. He specialises in surgeries using small incisions and high-powered microscopes to ensure safer outcomes.

• Performs minimally invasive spinal surgery – uses smaller cuts for less muscle damage and faster recovery
• Specialises in microsurgery which allows for greater precision around sensitive spinal nerves
• Follows a ‘first do no harm’ philosophy, only recommending surgery when a clear benefit is certain
• Maintains direct patient contact by providing his personal mobile number for post-operative support

Associate Professor Hatice Balaban brings senior neurological expertise to Liv Hospital Vadistanbul, focusing on complex nerve and movement disorders that contribute to persistent spinal pain.

• Specialises in botulinum toxin therapy to relieve muscular spasticity – helping reduce stiffness and pain without invasive surgery
• Previously served as an Associate Professor at Cumhuriyet University – training the next generation of neurologists
• Expert in treating movement-related gait and balance disorders to improve patient mobility
• Member of the Turkish Neurological Society and the Parkinson's Disease Society