You are in the right place. Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS — board-certified foot & ankle surgeon with 3,000+ surgeries — explains exactly what top of foot pain — when to see a foot doctor means and what actually works. Call (810) 206-1402 for a same-day appointment at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.
Quick answer: Foot Doctor Top Foot affects roughly 1 in 4 adults in our practice. Effective treatment starts with a targeted diagnosis, conservative-first treatment, and escalation only when needed. We treat this regularly at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills practices. Call (810) 206-1402.
✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026
The Best Foot Doctor Top of the Foot Product Reviews:
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Causes:
Top of the foot nerve pain:
Symptoms:
The symptoms of top of the foot pain and most on with the specific causes. The most common causes include:- Numbness, burning, and tingling for a nerve injury or nerve bruising to the top of the foot.
- If you have a traumatic injury, this may be a Lisfranc sprain or Lisfranc spur fracture.
- It is possible to develop the top of the foot spur. This can cause aching, burning, and tingling.
- It is possible to bruise the top of the foot against her shoe. This can be from tight shoelaces or tight shoes.
- If your big toe joint has pain, this may be hallux rigidus or big toe joint arthritis.
Expert Podiatric Care in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle
Michigan patients with foot or ankle concerns — whether they involve acute injuries, chronic pain patterns, structural deformities, nail problems, or diabetic complications — can access expert fellowship-trained podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. We serve Livingston County patients from our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River and Oakland County patients from our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208. Same-week new patient appointments are available; we accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Medicare Advantage plans. In-office digital X-ray and musculoskeletal ultrasound are available at both locations for same-visit diagnostic imaging. Michigan patients ready for expert foot care can call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402.
Forefoot Pain, Sesamoiditis, and Ball-of-Foot Conditions in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle
Related Treatment Guides
Michigan patients with forefoot pain — pain in the ball of the foot, under specific metatarsal heads, or at the 1st MTP joint (big toe joint) — benefit from a podiatric evaluation that establishes the specific diagnosis rather than treating generalized metatarsalgia. Sesamoiditis (inflammation of the sesamoid bones beneath the 1st MTP) requires sesamoid-offloading orthotics and, for severe cases, steroid injection or surgical excision. Metatarsalgia from 2nd-4th metatarsal overload responds to metatarsal pad placement and custom orthotics addressing the mechanical overload pattern. Morton’s neuroma causes burning and numbness into the 3rd and 4th toes and responds to steroid injection and surgical decompression when conservative care fails. Plantar plate injuries at the lesser MTP joints require MRI confirmation and specific orthotic modifications. At Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan patients with forefoot pain receive a thorough diagnosis with weight-bearing X-rays and ultrasound, and targeted treatment based on the confirmed diagnosis. Call (810) 206-1402 for an appointment at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.
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Our board-certified podiatrists treat this condition at two convenient locations. Same-day appointments often available.
Pain on Top of Your Foot?
Our podiatrists identify the cause of dorsal foot pain and provide targeted treatment for fast, lasting relief.
Clinical References
- Menz HB, Jordan KP, Roddy E, Croft PR. Characteristics of primary care consultations for musculoskeletal foot and ankle problems in the UK. Rheumatology. 2010;49(7):1391-1398.
- Rao S, Riskowski JL, Hannan MT. Musculoskeletal conditions of the foot and ankle: assessments and treatment options. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2012;26(3):345-368.
- Bica D, Sprouse RA, Armen J. Diagnosis and management of common foot fractures. Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(3):183-191.
Insurance Accepted
BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →
Howell Office
4330 E Grand River Ave
Howell, MI 48843
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Bloomfield Hills Office
43494 Woodward Ave, #208
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
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Your Board-Certified Podiatrists
Ready to Get Back on Your Feet?
Same-week appointments available at both locations.
Book Your AppointmentMore Podiatrist-Recommended Foot Health Essentials
Top-Rated Arch Support Insole
Universal podiatrist-recommended insert for pain relief and prevention.
Foot Massage Ball
Daily 3-minute roll reduces most forms of foot and heel pain.
Moisture-Wicking Sock
Prevents fungus, blisters, and odor — the basics matter.
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.
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.
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.
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🩺 Dr. Tom’s Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These are products I personally use and recommend to patients.
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Ready to fix this for good?
Reading goes only so far. The fastest path to relief is a 30-minute office visit with Dr. Biernacki — same-day Howell or Bloomfield Hills. Call (810) 206-1402 or use our online booking.
Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Same-Day Appointments Available
Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Hills. If you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, we have same-day appointment availability.
Get Expert Care at Balance Foot & Ankle
Same-week appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices. Board-certified podiatric surgeons. Most insurance accepted.
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.