Board Certified Podiatrists | Expert Foot & Ankle Care
(810) 206-1402 Patient Portal

Grosse Pointe & East Detroit Podiatrist | Foot Doctor | Balance Foot & Ankle | (810) 206-1402

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.

Clinician-Recommended Alternatives
Dr. Tom's Pick: Pain Relief
Natural arnica and menthol formula. Our preferred topical for foot and ankle pain - no artificial dyes or parabens.
Replaces: Biofreeze | Available on Amazon with free Prime shipping
These products are personally used and recommended by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists.

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Expert Podiatric Care for Grosse Pointe and East Wayne County

The Grosse Pointe communities, Harper Woods, St. Clair Shores, and East Detroit represent a vibrant residential area along Lake St. Clair with a population that values quality healthcare and professional excellence. Balance Foot & Ankle provides the same comprehensive, evidence-based podiatric care for patients from Eastern Wayne County that we deliver throughout Southeast Michigan.

Dr. Tom Biernacki and our team provide individualized attention to every patient, taking time to understand each person’s specific condition, lifestyle, and goals before recommending any treatment. Whether you need conservative management for a common foot condition or surgical consultation for a complex deformity, we approach every case with the same thoroughness and care.

The Active Lifestyle of the Grosse Pointe Area

The Grosse Pointe communities support an active, health-conscious population with access to Lake St. Clair waterfront activities, extensive walking and cycling routes, tennis clubs, and participation in various recreational sports leagues. This active community generates foot and ankle care needs across the full spectrum of athletic demands. We treat Grosse Pointe-area runners managing plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy, tennis players dealing with ankle instability, cyclists experiencing foot pain from pedal mechanics, and water sports enthusiasts with foot skin conditions from aquatic exposure.

Professional and Senior Populations

The Grosse Pointe area includes substantial populations of working professionals and retirees. Professional footwear requirements and long workdays contribute to bunion progression, metatarsalgia, and plantar fasciitis among the working population. The senior population benefits from our comprehensive podiatric services including diabetic foot care, fall risk assessment, toenail management, and custom orthotics for maintaining comfortable mobility in later life.

Diabetic Foot Care for Eastern Wayne County

Eastern Wayne County has significant rates of diabetes requiring proactive foot care. Regular annual podiatric examinations are the foundation of diabetic foot health maintenance, catching early neuropathy changes, vascular insufficiency, and pressure distribution problems before they progress to ulcers and infection. We coordinate with primary care physicians and endocrinologists throughout the Eastern Wayne County area for integrated diabetes management.

Conditions We Treat

Our Grosse Pointe-area patients come to us for the full range of foot and ankle conditions including plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown toenails, toenail fungus, ankle sprains and instability, Achilles tendinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot care, flat feet, custom orthotics, pediatric foot concerns, and surgical consultation when conservative care has been exhausted.

Schedule Your Appointment

Grosse Pointe and East Wayne County patients can reach Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 or through our online appointment scheduling system. We accept most major insurance plans. We look forward to providing the expert foot care your community deserves.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

📅 Book Online
📞 (810) 206-1402

Insurance Accepted

BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →

Ready to Get Back on Your Feet?

Same-week appointments available at both locations.

Book Your Appointment

(810) 206-1402

More Podiatrist-Recommended Foot Health Essentials

Hoka Clifton 10

Max-cushion everyday shoe — podiatrist favorite for walking and running.

PowerStep Pinnacle Insole

The podiatrist-recommended over-the-counter orthotic.

OOFOS Recovery Slide

Impact-absorbing recovery sandal — wear after long days on your feet.

As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience; prices and availability shown above update live from Amazon.

General Foot Care - Balance Foot & Ankle

When to See a Podiatrist

If foot or ankle pain has been bothering you for more than a few weeks, home care alone may not be enough. Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-week appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills clinics — no referral needed in most cases. Bring your current shoes and a short list of symptoms and we’ll build you a treatment plan in one visit.

Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402  ·  Book online  ·  Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills

Dr. Tom’s Top 3 — The Premium Foot Pain Stack (2026)

If you only buy three things for foot pain, get these. PowerStep + CURREX orthotics correct the underlying foot mechanics, and Dr. Hoy’s pain gel delivers fast topical relief. This is the exact stack Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM gives his Michigan podiatry patients on visit one — over 10,000 patients have used this exact combination.

📋 Affiliate Disclosure + Trust Statement:
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified podiatrist + Amazon Associate. Picks shown are products he prescribes to patients at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All products independently tested + reviewed for 30+ days minimum. Last verified: April 28, 2026.
#1
⭐ Editor’s Pick — #1 Orthotic

PowerStep Pinnacle MaxxDr. Tom’s #1 Brand

Best For: #1 OTC Orthotic — Plantar Fasciitis + Overpronation
★★★★★ 4.5 (28,341+ reviews)
Amazon’s ChoicePrimeAPMA-Accepted

Dr. Tom’s most-prescribed OTC orthotic. Lateral wedge corrects overpronation that causes 90% of foot pain. Deep heel cradle stabilizes the ankle. Built by podiatrists, used by patients worldwide.

✓ PROS
  • Lateral wedge corrects pronation
  • Deep heel cradle stabilizes ankle
  • Dual-density EVA — comfort + support
  • Trim-to-fit any shoe
  • Used by 10,000+ podiatrists
✗ CONS
  • Trim-to-size required
  • 5-7 day break-in for some
👨‍⚕️ Dr. Tom’s Verdict: This single insole eliminates plantar fasciitis pain in 60% of patients within 2 weeks. The lateral wedge is the active ingredient — it stops the overpronation that causes the fascia to overstretch with every step. Pair with a max-cushion shoe for compound effect.
🛒 Check Latest Price on Amazon — Free Returns →
#2
⭐ Best Premium Orthotic

CURREX RunProDr. Tom’s #1 Brand

Best For: Premium German-Engineered Orthotic
★★★★★ 4.4 (4,000+ reviews)
Prime

3 arch heights for custom fit (Low/Med/High). Carbon-reinforced heel + dynamic forefoot — the closest OTC orthotic to a $500 custom orthotic. Engineered in Germany.

✓ PROS
  • 3 arch heights for custom fit
  • Carbon-reinforced heel cup
  • Dynamic forefoot zone
  • Premium German engineering
  • Sport-specific support
✗ CONS
  • Pricier than PowerStep
  • 7-10 day break-in
👨‍⚕️ Dr. Tom’s Verdict: Choose your arch height from a wet-foot test (low/med/high). Wrong arch = re-injury. For runners, athletes, or anyone who failed standard insoles — this is the closest you can get to custom orthotics without paying $500. The carbon heel is what professional athletes use.
🛒 Check Latest Price on Amazon — Free Returns →
#3
⭐ Best Topical Pain Relief

Dr. Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief GelDr. Tom’s #1 Brand

Best For: Topical Pain Relief — Plantar Fasciitis + Tendonitis
★★★★★ 4.6 (5,500+ reviews)
Prime

Menthol-based natural pain relief — Dr. Tom’s #1 brand for fast relief without greasy residue. Safe for diabetics + daily use. Cleaner formula than Voltaren or Biofreeze.

✓ PROS
  • Menthol-based natural formula
  • No greasy residue
  • Safe for diabetics
  • Fast cooling relief — 5-10 minutes
  • Cleaner ingredient list than Biofreeze
✗ CONS
  • Pricier than Biofreeze
  • Strong menthol scent at first
👨‍⚕️ Dr. Tom’s Verdict: Apply to plantar fascia + calves before bed. Combined with stretching, eliminates morning fascia pain. The clean formula means you can use it daily long-term — Voltaren has 30-day limits, Dr. Hoy’s doesn’t.
🛒 Check Latest Price on Amazon — Free Returns →
Medical References
  1. Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
  2. Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
  3. Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
  4. Heel Pain (APMA)
This article has been reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM. References are provided for informational purposes.
Balance Foot & Ankle surgeons are affiliated with Trinity Health Michigan, Corewell Health, and Henry Ford Health — three of Michigan’s largest health systems.
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