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Board-certified foot & ankle specialists · Same-week appointments · (810) 206-1402
Highland, MI Podiatrist — Foot & Ankle Care for an Equestrian Town
Highland was named Michigan’s first designated equestrian community, and it shows — horse properties, the trails at Highland Recreation Area, and a rural pace that keeps people on their feet and in the saddle year-round. That life is hard on feet and ankles. When something goes wrong, the board-certified podiatrists at Balance Foot & Ankle are a short drive west: we see Highland patients at our Howell office, usually within the same week.
Is there a podiatrist in Highland — or do you have to drive?
There is no podiatry office inside Highland Township, so you will make a short trip west — and it is a straightforward one. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River Ave is about 15 miles away, roughly 25 minutes via M-59 (Highland Road) and US-23. For a fracture or a badly swollen ankle we hold same-day and next-day slots, and most new Highland patients are seen within the week.
The foot & ankle problems we see most from Highland
Highland’s mix of horse country, trails, and school sports shows up in our exam rooms. A few patterns we see over and over from this area:
- Equestrian injuries — crush injuries when a horse steps on a foot, ankle fractures and sprains from falls, and pressure problems from riding boots. We X-ray on-site to sort a deep bruise from a break the same day.
- Trail injuries from Highland Recreation Area — plantar fasciitis and heel pain, Achilles tendinitis, and ankle sprains from the equestrian, mountain-bike, and hiking trails.
- School-sports injuries — with Milford High School and Huron Valley Schools here, we treat growth-plate heel pain (Sever’s), sprains, and stress fractures in young athletes.
- Bunions and hammertoes — corrected conservatively or surgically, with same-day discharge after surgery.
- Diabetic foot care and neuropathy — annual checks, wound prevention, and coordinated care for Highland’s established families.
- Custom orthotics and ingrown toenail care — for anyone on their feet around the property or the barn all day.
Getting to our Howell office from Highland
From Highland, head west — M-59 (Highland Road) to US-23, then toward Grand River Avenue. Our office is at 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843, with parking at the door. Figure about 15 miles and 25 minutes in normal traffic.
We also care for patients from the communities around Highland, including Milford, White Lake, Hartland, Waterford, and the Hickory Ridge and Seven Harbors areas.
Foot & ankle services for Highland patients
All of this is done at our Howell office, an easy run west on M-59. Book online any time — you can book online in about a minute rather than waiting for phone hours.
Riding and barn injuries
A foot caught in a stirrup, a horse stepping on a boot, or a fall in the arena produces crush injuries, midfoot sprains, and fractures that are easy to underestimate. A foot that is still swollen and painful to walk on after a few days needs imaging rather than patience. We have digital X-ray on site, so most of these are diagnosed in the same visit. See ankle and foot injuries, or use urgent care if it just happened.
Riding boots, work boots, and toe pain
Tall boots and stiff soles concentrate pressure on the toes and ball of the foot. Bunions, hammertoes, and neuromas often show up first as a boot that suddenly does not fit right. We treat conservatively first and discuss surgical correction only when it genuinely limits you. See bunions and toe deformities.
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
Long days on uneven barn floors and trail ground bring this on, and it is worst on the first steps of the morning. Most cases settle with stretching, taping, an injection, or a properly built orthotic. See heel pain and plantar fasciitis.
Custom orthotics that fit real boots
Built from a scan of your own feet and made for the footwear you actually spend the day in, not a dress shoe. See custom orthotics.
Young riders and school athletes
Growing feet get heel pain, growth-plate irritation, and ingrown toenails, and they need a different assessment than adults. Pain that limps into a second week is worth looking at rather than waiting out.
Ingrown toenails and nail problems
Common in anyone living in boots. Treated in the office under local anesthetic, including permanent correction for nails that keep coming back. Thick or discolored nails are not always fungus, so we confirm the cause before treating. See toenail fungus.
Diabetic foot care and wound prevention
For anyone with diabetes, neuropathy, or reduced circulation, especially on a property where you are on your feet outdoors daily. Annual comprehensive exams, protective nail and callus care, footwear assessment, and early wound treatment — usually covered by Medicare and most plans. See diabetic foot care.
Booking and your first visit
Book your Howell appointment online → Booking is open 24 hours a day. Same-week slots are normal and we hold time for acute injuries.
Plan on about 30–45 minutes. We take a history, examine the foot and ankle, and image it on site if needed. Bring photo ID, your insurance card, a medication list, and the boots you spend the most time in. Details on the new patient page. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and benefits are verified before your visit at no charge — see insurance and costs. If getting out is difficult, ask about in-home visits.
Your Highland care team
Three board-certified foot and ankle specialists see Highland patients:
- Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS — foot and ankle surgeon; sports, trauma, and reconstructive care.
- Dr. Carl Jay, DPM — comprehensive medical and surgical podiatry.
- Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM — board-certified; wound care and diabetic foot health.
Book online or call (810) 206-1402 and ask for the next available slot.
Insurance & your first visit
We are in-network with most major plans — BCBS of Michigan, BCN, Priority Health, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare and Medicare Advantage, most Medicaid plans, and Tricare. We verify your benefits for free before your visit, so you know your cost up front. Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, a list of medications, and any recent X-rays or MRIs.
Highland podiatry questions we hear a lot
Is there a podiatrist in Highland, MI?
Not inside the township, but our Howell office is about 25 minutes west via M-59, and we see Highland patients within the same week in most cases.
How far is your office from Highland?
Roughly 15 miles — about 25 minutes west on M-59 (Highland Road) and US-23 to 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell.
Can I get a same-week appointment?
Usually yes. Acute problems — a suspected fracture, a badly infected ingrown nail — typically get same-day or next-day care.
My child rides or plays sports — do you treat young athletes?
Yes. We treat growth-plate heel pain (Sever’s), ankle sprains, and stress fractures in young riders and school athletes, and we X-ray on-site when we need to rule out a fracture.
Do you take my insurance?
Most likely — we participate with the major Michigan plans and verify benefits free before your visit. Call (810) 206-1402 and we will check yours.
Ready to see a Highland-area foot & ankle specialist?
Same-week appointments, on-site imaging, and a conservative-first approach — a short drive west from Highland to our Howell office.
Near Highland: we also see patients from Milford, White Lake, Commerce Township, and Hartland. Whichever town you are coming from, book online and pick your own time at our Howell office — live availability, confirmed instantly.
Not sure which of our two Michigan offices is closest? Highland Township patients are seen at our Bloomfield Township office in Oakland 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.