4.9★ · 1,123+ Google Reviews · Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeons
Looking for a foot doctor in Brighton, MI? Balance Foot & Ankle does not have a Brighton office — the nearest podiatrists to Brighton are our board-certified team at the Howell office, about 15 minutes away on Grand River. Appointments are usually available the same week, and you can pick a real appointment time online.
Foot doctor for Brighton, MI — 15 minutes away at our Howell office
Brighton doesn’t have a full-service podiatry surgeon’s office of its own — but ours is closer than most people’s dentist. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 sits just past the Latson Road exit off I-96, about 15 minutes from downtown Brighton. Heel pain, bunions, ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care, and injuries — usually same-week, often same-day, no referral needed.
Ready to be seen? Book a real appointment time online, 24/7 — Howell or Bloomfield Township. Same-week openings are usually available.
or call (810) 206-1402
The closest full-service podiatry team to Brighton
We’ll be straight with you: this is a service-area page, not a Brighton storefront. Balance Foot & Ankle sees Brighton from our Howell office — one exit up I-96, straight along Grand River. That 15-minute drive buys you three board-certified podiatrists, in-office procedures, digital X-ray, and surgical care that small satellite clinics can’t offer, plus in-home podiatry visits across Livingston County for patients who can’t travel at all.
What we treat most for Brighton patients
Brighton is an active, outdoors town, and the injuries we treat follow how people here spend their time. A few patterns we see over and over from this area:
- Ski and snowboard injuries from Mt. Brighton. Boot-top ankle fractures, high (syndesmotic) ankle sprains, and midfoot injuries pick up every winter once the hill opens — these are the ones you should not “walk off.” See our guides on 5th metatarsal (Jones) fractures and broken toes.
- Trail and road running overuse from Island Lake, Kensington, and the Huron River trails. Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and stress fractures are the classic Brighton-runner complaints, especially when spring mileage jumps or shoes are past their life.
- Youth sports injuries. Between Brighton High athletics and busy travel teams, we see a lot of Sever’s disease (heel pain in 9–14-year-olds), sports fractures, and turf toe. Kids’ foot pain is worth checking early — growth-plate injuries don’t behave like adult ones.
- Summer lake-season foot problems. Around Woodland Lake, Ore Lake, and Lake Chemung we treat puncture wounds and cuts from docks and lake bottoms, plus ingrown toenails and athlete’s foot that flare with barefoot summers — and these matter more, not less, for anyone with diabetes. Our diabetic wound care guide covers when to call immediately.
- Bunions, hammertoes & everyday adult heel pain — the common problems that bring most Brighton adults in. Conservative care first, and when it’s time, modern options up to Lapiplasty and minimally invasive bunion surgery.
- Ingrown toenails, warts & nail fungus — fast in-office fixes, including laser fungus treatment.
- Burning, tingling, or numb feet. Start with our burning feet guide, then let us find the actual cause.
Guides we’ve written for Brighton patients
These aren’t generic pages — they were written specifically with Brighton-area patients in mind:
- Achilles Tendinitis Treatment Near Brighton
- Sever’s Disease (Child Heel Pain) Near Brighton
- High Arch Foot (Cavus) Treatment Near Brighton
- Burning Feet Treatment Near Brighton
- Broken Toe Treatment Near Brighton
- 5th Metatarsal (Jones) Fracture Treatment Near Brighton
- Diabetic Foot Wound Care Near Brighton
- Ankle Fusion Surgery Near Brighton
Foot & Ankle Services for Brighton Patients
Everything below happens at our Howell office, about 15 minutes from downtown Brighton. Most of it is handled in a single visit, including on-site digital X-rays when they are needed, so you are not sent somewhere else and asked to come back another day. See the next open times at the Howell office.
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
That first-step-out-of-bed heel pain is the most common reason Brighton patients call us, and it is also one of the most fixable. We examine the fascia and the heel bone directly, X-ray on site when the pain pattern suggests a heel spur or a stress reaction, and then treat the cause rather than the symptom, usually some combination of custom orthotics, laser therapy, and a targeted stretching protocol. Runners coming off the Island Lake and Huron River trails usually need the orthotic piece; people on their feet all day at work more often need footwear and loading changes. See our full heel pain and plantar fasciitis guides.
Bunions and hammertoes
A bunion is a joint problem, not just a bump, which is why shoe changes alone stop working past a certain point. We stage the deformity on X-ray and tell you honestly whether padding, spacers, and a wider toe box will still hold it, or whether correction makes sense. Dr. Biernacki performs minimally invasive bunion correction, which generally means smaller incisions and a faster return to walking than the traditional approach. Hammertoes follow the same logic: flexible ones have real conservative options, rigid ones usually do not. More on our bunion treatment and hammertoe pages.
Ingrown toenails, usually handled the same day
This is the appointment people put off longest and regret waiting on. An ingrown nail that has turned red, warm, or started draining is infected, and soaking will not resolve it. We numb the toe, remove the offending border, and, if this keeps happening to the same toe, treat the nail root so that edge does not grow back. It takes about twenty minutes and you walk out. We hold urgent slots specifically for these. See ingrown toenail treatment.
Diabetic foot care and wound prevention
If you have diabetes, a routine foot check is one of the highest-value twenty minutes in your year. We assess circulation and protective sensation, look for the pressure points that quietly turn into ulcers, handle nail and callus care safely, and get you into appropriate footwear before there is a problem. If there is already an open sore, that is urgent rather than routine, and you should call the same day instead of waiting for an opening. More on our diabetic foot care page.
Custom orthotics
These are not the inserts at the pharmacy counter. We 3D-scan your foot and build the device around your arch, your gait, and the shoes you actually wear, because work boots, running shoes, and dress shoes each need a different build. They are most worth it for plantar fasciitis that keeps coming back, flat feet, forefoot pain, and anyone whose job keeps them standing on concrete. Many plans cover part of the cost and we will check yours before you commit. See custom orthotics.
Toenail fungus
Thick, yellow, crumbling nails are usually a fungal infection of the nail bed, and topical treatments alone rarely reach it. We confirm the diagnosis first, since a fair amount of what looks like fungus turns out to be old trauma or psoriasis, then walk through laser treatment and prescription options and what each one realistically achieves. Nails grow slowly, so improvement is measured in months rather than weeks, and we would rather tell you that up front. See toenail fungus.
Sprains, fractures, and Achilles injuries
Mt. Brighton and the local trail system generate a steady stream of these every season. The reason to be seen rather than wait it out is simple: a bad sprain that is actually a fracture, or a partially torn Achilles that gets treated like a strain, heals badly when it is missed early. We X-ray on site, immobilize appropriately, and manage rehab through your return to activity. See ankle sprain and Achilles tendonitis.
Getting here from Brighton
Easy drive, parking at the door. Rough times:
- Downtown Brighton: ~15 min — I-96 West to the Latson Road exit, or straight out Grand River Ave.
- Genoa Township: ~10 min up Grand River.
- Brighton Township / Island Lake area: ~15–18 min via I-96.
- Hamburg / Whitmore Lake: ~20 min via US-23 and I-96.
Office: Balance Foot & Ankle, 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 · Phone: (810) 206-1402 · Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:30 PM.
Your Brighton care team
All three board-certified podiatrists see Brighton patients in Howell — whoever fits your problem and can get you in soonest. Book with the first available podiatrist online.
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS
Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon and founder of Balance Foot & Ankle. Bunions, heel pain, reconstructive surgery. View bio →
Dr. Carl Jay, DPM
Full-range foot & ankle care with a conservative, sports-medicine-minded approach. View bio →
Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM
Diabetic foot care, nail and skin conditions, and pediatric foot problems. View bio →
Something hurts today? Don’t wait on it.
Infected ingrown nails, sudden swelling, open sores on a diabetic foot, or a possible fracture shouldn’t sit in a two-week queue. We hold same-day and urgent slots for exactly these — call (810) 206-1402 and tell us what’s going on.
What your first visit looks like
Plan on 30–45 minutes. We start with your story — when it started, what makes it worse, what you’ve already tried — then examine both feet, not just the one that hurts, because the cause often lives in how you stand and move. Digital X-ray is on site, so fractures, bunion angles, and arthritis get answered the same day instead of at a second appointment. You leave with a clear diagnosis, a plan that starts conservative, and honest talk about what’s worth doing now versus watching. Bring your insurance card, a medication list, and the shoes you wear most — worn tread tells us more than most tests. Pick your appointment time online.
Insurance & costs
We accept most major plans — Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, HAP, Meridian, and Priority Health among them — no referral needed. Bring your insurance card, medication list, and the shoes you wear most. Start on our new-patient page or see insurance & costs.
Office hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday – Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Saturday – Sunday | Closed |
Brighton podiatry questions we hear a lot
Is there a Balance Foot & Ankle office in Brighton?
Not inside Brighton itself — our full-service office is about 15 minutes away in Howell, at 4330 E Grand River Ave, just past the Latson Road exit off I-96. Most Brighton patients find it faster to reach than crossing town at rush hour, and we also offer in-home visits across Livingston County when travel is hard.
Can I get a same-day appointment from Brighton?
Often, yes. Painful ingrown toenails, infections, wounds, and injuries are exactly what we hold same-day and next-day slots for. Call (810) 206-1402 and tell us it’s urgent — our urgent foot care page explains what we prioritize.
I hurt my ankle skiing at Mt. Brighton — do I need to be seen?
If you can’t put weight on it, it’s swelling quickly, or the pain sits high above the ankle rather than on the bump, get it checked — those point to a fracture or a high ankle sprain, both of which do worse ignored. We can usually see ski injuries the same week and image them in-office.
Do you treat kids and teen athletes from Brighton?
Yes — heel pain in young athletes (Sever’s disease), ankle sprains, ingrown toenails, and warts are all routine for us. With Brighton’s ski hill, trails, and busy youth sports leagues, we see a lot of young Brighton feet, especially in fall and winter sports seasons.
Which insurances do you take?
We accept most major plans — Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, HAP, Meridian, and Priority Health among them — and no referral is needed to see a podiatrist.
Foot or ankle pain in Brighton? We can usually see you this week.
or call (810) 206-1402
Request an appointment from Brighton
Prefer not to call? Tell us what hurts and roughly when you can come in, and our front desk will confirm a time — usually the same week. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River Ave is a short drive from Brighton, and we keep openings each day for new foot and ankle problems.
You do not need a referral to be seen. If you are not sure whether what you have needs an appointment, describe it anyway and we will tell you honestly whether it can wait.
If it is something that should not wait — an infected ingrown nail, sudden swelling, an open sore on a diabetic foot, or a possible fracture — call (810) 206-1402 instead and ask for an urgent slot.
Serving Brighton, Genoa Township, Green Oak, Brighton Township, Hamburg, Pinckney, Whitmore Lake, and all of Livingston County from our Howell office. Nearby community pages: Howell, Hartland, Pinckney, Fenton, Milford, South Lyon, and Whitmore Lake. Can’t travel? Ask about in-home podiatry visits.
Book online — pick the office that’s closer
Real-time scheduling is open 24/7. Choose your office below and you’ll see live appointment times without waiting for a callback:
- Book online at our Howell office →
4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 (Livingston County) — closest for Brighton, Hartland, Fenton, Pinckney and Fowlerville. Howell office details. - Book online at our Bloomfield Township office →
43494 Woodward Ave #208, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302 (Oakland County) — closest for Birmingham, Troy, West Bloomfield, Royal Oak and Rochester Hills. Bloomfield Township office details.
Same-week appointments are usually available at both offices. Prefer to talk to someone first? Call (810) 206-1402.
Not sure which of our two Michigan offices is closest? Brighton patients are seen at our Howell office in Livingston County. Our podiatrist near me page lists every city we serve from both locations, with full addresses, the conditions we treat, and what to expect at a first visit.
More questions patients ask
Where do Brighton patients see a podiatrist?
Brighton patients are seen at Balance Foot & Ankle’s Howell office at 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 — about 15 minutes from Brighton via I-96 west to the Grand River Avenue exit. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule.
How far is the podiatry office from Brighton?
Our Howell office is roughly a 15-minute drive from downtown Brighton. Take I-96 west to the Grand River Avenue exit, or follow Grand River Avenue northwest directly into Howell.
Do you offer same-day appointments for Brighton patients?
Yes. For painful problems such as ingrown toenails, heel pain, or a possible fracture, we hold same-day and next-day openings whenever possible. Call (810) 206-1402 early in the day for the best availability.
Do you accept Medicare and insurance for Brighton patients?
Yes. We accept Medicare and most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Priority Health, and HAP. Bring your insurance card and we’ll verify your coverage at your first visit.
Do you make home visits in the Brighton area?
Yes. We offer mobile podiatrist home visits for homebound patients in Brighton and across Livingston County. Call (810) 206-1402 to ask whether a home visit is right for you.
Still have a question about coverage or cost? Call (810) 206-1402 and we will check your benefits before you come in — or book online: Book in Howell · Book in Bloomfield Township