Quick answer: A foot & ankle specialist (a podiatrist, DPM) focuses exclusively on conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower leg — heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, nerve pain, and nail problems. Unlike a general practitioner, it is all we do. Balance Foot & Ankle’s board-certified specialists see patients same-week in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Balance Foot & Ankle is a dedicated foot and ankle specialist practice serving Howell, Brighton, Bloomfield Hills, and Southeast Michigan. Our board-certified podiatric physicians diagnose and treat the full range of foot and ankle conditions — from everyday heel pain to complex reconstructive surgery — with same-week appointments and on-site digital X-ray. Call (810) 206-1402 or request your first visit.
Searching for a foot doctor near you? Our board-certified podiatrists see new patients in Howell and Bloomfield Hills.
What Is a Foot & Ankle Specialist?
A foot and ankle specialist is a physician who focuses exclusively on the lower extremity. Our podiatrists (DPMs) complete years of dedicated foot and ankle training and treat everything from skin and nail problems to fractures, nerve conditions, and surgical reconstruction. Because the foot and ankle are all we do, you get a level of focus a general clinic usually can’t match.
When to See a Foot & Ankle Specialist
It’s worth seeing a specialist when foot or ankle pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, keeps coming back, or limits your activity. You should also be evaluated for numbness or tingling, a wound or sore that won’t heal (especially with diabetes), a visibly changing deformity such as a bunion or flat foot, or any injury where you can’t bear weight comfortably.
Conditions We Treat
- Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
- Bunions and hammertoes
- Ingrown toenails and toenail fungus
- Diabetic foot care, neuropathy, and wound care
- Sports injuries, ankle sprains, and fractures
- Flat feet and arch problems
- Morton’s neuroma and nerve pain
- Custom orthotics and bracing
Why Choose Balance Foot & Ankle
Our team includes board-certified podiatric physicians led by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS, a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon who has performed more than 3,000 procedures. We take a conservative-first approach — the goal is the least invasive treatment that actually solves the problem — and we hold a 4.9-star rating from over 1,123 Google reviews. With offices in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, expert care is close to home.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Your first appointment includes a thorough exam and, when needed, on-site digital X-rays so we can identify the problem the same day. You’ll leave with a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan explained in plain language. Most new patients are seen within the same week.
Insurance & New Patients
We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, HAP, and Priority Health. See our full insurance information → New patients can complete intake forms online before the first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a foot and ankle specialist the same as a podiatrist?
Yes — a podiatrist (DPM) is a physician who specializes in the foot and ankle. Some patients also see orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons; here’s how the two compare.
How quickly can I be seen?
Most new patients are offered an appointment within the same week. Call (810) 206-1402 and we’ll find the earliest opening.
Do I need a referral?
Most plans let you see a foot and ankle specialist without a referral. Some HMO plans require one — we’ll verify your coverage before your visit.
Should diabetics see a foot specialist?
Yes. Regular foot exams are an important part of diabetes care and help catch problems early, before they become serious.
Book With a Foot & Ankle Specialist
Get answers from a team that treats the foot and ankle all day, every day. Call (810) 206-1402 or book online.
Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843
Bloomfield Hills: 43494 Woodward Ave #208, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
(810) 206-1402
What a foot & ankle specialist treats
A foot and ankle specialist is a podiatric physician (DPM) who diagnoses and treats everything below the knee — from everyday aches to complex reconstructive surgery. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, we care for:
- Heel & arch pain — plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and Achilles problems.
- Bunions, hammertoes & forefoot pain
- Ingrown toenails, fungus & skin conditions
- Sprains, fractures & sports injuries
- Nerve pain & neuropathy
- Diabetic foot care & wound prevention
- Flat feet & biomechanical problems, often corrected with custom orthotics.
When should you see a foot & ankle specialist?
Make an appointment if you have pain that lasts more than a few days, swelling or numbness that will not settle, a wound or sore that is slow to heal (especially if you are diabetic), an injury that makes it hard to bear weight, or a deformity that is getting worse. Primary-care offices manage the basics, but a specialist has the imaging, in-office procedures and surgical training to resolve the problem instead of simply managing it.
Conservative care first — surgery only when it is the right call
Most foot and ankle problems never need surgery. We start with the least invasive option that actually works — orthotics, targeted therapy, injections, bracing or a footwear change — and we are honest about what each will and will not do. When surgery genuinely is the best path, you are in experienced, board-certified hands.
Board-certified expertise in Howell
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon — the FACFAS credential reflects fellowship-level training and examination by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Meet Dr. Biernacki and our team. You get the expertise that draws patients from across Livingston and Oakland County, close to home in Howell.
See a specialist in Howell & Livingston County
Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River Ave serves Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville and Pinckney, with same-week appointments for new patients.
- Visit our Howell podiatry office — hours & directions
- Heel pain? See our plantar fasciitis guide
- Nerve pain or numbness? Neuropathy treatment
- Book your specialist appointment
Ready to get the right diagnosis? Call (810) 206-1402 or request an appointment online — most new patients are seen within a few days.
Foot & ankle specialist: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a podiatrist and a foot & ankle specialist?
They are the same thing: a podiatric physician (DPM) is the foot and ankle specialist. Some — like Dr. Biernacki — are also board-certified foot and ankle surgeons (FACFAS), which adds fellowship-level surgical training on top of routine podiatric care.
Do I need a referral to see a foot & ankle specialist?
Usually not. Most insurance plans let you book directly with a podiatrist without a referral. We verify your specific plan before your visit so there are no surprises.
What conditions do you treat?
Essentially everything below the knee — heel and arch pain, bunions, hammertoes, ingrown and fungal nails, sprains and fractures, sports injuries, nerve pain and neuropathy, and diabetic foot care.
Can I get a same-week appointment in Howell?
Yes. We hold openings for new and urgent patients and most are seen within a few days at our Howell office on E Grand River Ave.
Will you take my insurance?
We accept most major plans, including Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. We confirm your benefits before treatment begins.
Searching for a foot and ankle specialist near you? Balance Foot & Ankle’s board-certified foot & ankle surgeons handle everything from sports injuries and fractures to complex reconstruction at our Bloomfield Hills office (Oakland County) and Howell office (Livingston County). Book online or call (810) 206-1402.
Foot & Ankle Specialist Near Me — Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Need a foot and ankle specialist near me? Balance Foot & Ankle’s board-certified podiatric physicians and surgeons see patients at two Michigan offices. Our Howell office (4330 E Grand River Ave) serves Livingston County — Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, Pinckney, Fenton, Hamburg and Whitmore Lake. Our Bloomfield Township office (43494 Woodward Ave #208) serves Oakland County — Birmingham, Troy, West Bloomfield, Rochester Hills, Novi, Pontiac and Royal Oak. From heel pain and sports injuries to bunions, fractures and reconstructive foot & ankle surgery, we handle routine and complex cases — including referrals other surgeons send out. Same-week appointments; most insurance and Medicare accepted. Call (810) 206-1402.
Where can I find a foot and ankle specialist near me in Michigan?
Balance Foot & Ankle’s specialists practice in Howell and Bloomfield Hills. Each provider is a podiatric physician and surgeon (DPM), so you get diagnosis, conservative care and surgical options under one roof.
Is there a foot surgeon near me?
Yes. Our team performs bunion correction, hammertoe repair, fracture fixation and minimally invasive foot & ankle surgery at both locations, with reconstructive and revision cases handled by our fellowship-trained surgeon.
How soon can I see a specialist?
Same-week appointments are usually available, and urgent foot or ankle problems — sudden pain, injury, infection or diabetic wounds — are prioritized for the soonest opening.
Looking for a foot & ankle specialist?
Expert diagnosis and treatment for every foot and ankle problem, big or small. In Michigan? our specialists can help. Same-week visits in Howell & Bloomfield Hills, most insurance accepted.
📅 Book an Appointment 📞 (810) 206-1402★ 4.9 from 1,123+ Google reviews · Same-week visits · We verify your insurance free — most visits are just a copay.