I visited Arlington Acupuncture to see Dr. Kim, based on the outstanding reviews here, and was…read moresurprised (and a bit taken aback) when I arrived for my first appointment and discovered I was to be seen by a different acupuncturist. As it turns out, that acupuncturist, Stephen Semptimphelter (EAMP, LAc) has recently become the primary practitioner at this location, while Dr. Kim, the owner (who treated me one time and is also fantastic), primarily works at his Seattle office, keeping a few hours each week to tend to his Arlington patients.
However unsure I was at the start of that first visit, my concerns were immediately eased. Having had both foot and shoulder surgeries several months before, I'd continued to suffer a frozen big toe joint and ongoing pain in my shoulder due to "guarding." My podiatrist had only days before told me, after several visits with my (exceptional) physical therapist, that it was possible the joint had simply recovered to the extent that it would on its own, and that I would either have to live with it or take any of a number of unattractive options in an attempt to free it, none of them guaranteed to work, nor free of risks to the joint. I was stunned and elated when after a single electroacupuncture treatment by Stephen, flexibility in the joint improved, albeit almost imperceptibly. Six visits later and with a lot of work at home to capitalize on every little bit of increased range of motion, I was able to wear some of my regular shoes for the first time since before surgery, 5 months before.
Although he treated my shoulder in various ways at different visits, it was one particular visit when chose a different technique and also utilized cupping that changed the game. Coincidentally or not, things began to change that day, up and down for a couple of weeks, nothing but improvement since. I continued PT, and, just as with my foot, I took advantage of the improvement and advanced in strength and flexibility at home, through yoga, stretching, and gentle, careful use of weights. Now, with PT and intensive acupuncture treatment completed, after a year of acute pain before surgery and months of continued pain afterward (although recovery from the surgery itself was almost non-existent -- I hit the jackpot with an orthopedic surgeon as well), I continue to make gains every day. Just this one decision, to give acupuncture a try at this clinic, made all the difference in the world.
Beyond my surgery recoveries, along the way I mentioned my case of mild but chronic (3-month) vertigo, for which he prescribed an herbal supplement that (I am not kidding) knocked it out in just a few days. (Even he expected it to possibly take several weeks.) Coincidence, you say? I thought so, too. But then, after maybe 10 days, I missed taking them for a few days and the vertigo returned. A few days of faithful dosing later, it was gone again. When my supply ran out and it took a few days to get back in to buy more, the same pattern repeated. I've since been able to reduce my dose significantly (from 8 per day to just 2) and remain symptom-free.
Finally, during one of my last visits, I mentioned in passing that I was losing sleep due to repeat hot flashes. One treatment and for the first time in at least a couple of weeks, not a single one. I've had them off and on since, and haven't been back in for another treatment, so the jury's still out... but with my overall success with Stephen's treatments and recommendations, it's sure getting hard to be skeptical. :)
I'd been a volunteer receptionist at a non-profit acupuncture clinic that predominately served seniors, and I'd seen regular treatments literally change lives. I knew it worked, but it had never done much for *me*. I couldn't have been more amazed by this experience -- by Stephen's expertise and my results.
The exterior of the building housing the office is pretty unsightly, but the interior is not, and the office itself is attractive and peaceful. (The treatment rooms are so relaxing it's hard to leave!)
Acupuncture -- and Chinese Medicine in general -- can gently and effectively treat a *staggering* array of symptoms and (most importantly) their root causes, and improve overall wellness and quality of life. If you're on the fence and suffering, do this for yourself. You'll likely come away wishing, like I had, that you'd done it much sooner.
