Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: Balance Foot & Ankle serves patients from Menominee, Marinette, and Menominee County in Michigan’s southernmost Upper Peninsula. Dr. Tom Biernacki is a board-qualified podiatrist specializing in heel pain, ankle fractures, flatfoot deformity, sports injuries, and surgical reconstruction. Menominee patients travel approximately 3.5–4 hours via US-41 South and I-75 to reach our Howell, MI office — a drive many make for subspecialty foot and ankle expertise not available locally.
Foot and Ankle Care for Menominee and Menominee County
Menominee — a city of approximately 8,600 on the shore of Green Bay at the Wisconsin border — is the county seat of Menominee County, Michigan’s southernmost Upper Peninsula county. Separated from its larger twin city Marinette, Wisconsin by the Menominee River, the twin cities community shares economic and commercial ties while maintaining distinct identities. Menominee County’s mixed economy includes paper and wood products manufacturing, retail trade, and an active commercial and sport fishing industry on Green Bay. For complex foot and ankle conditions requiring subspecialty care, Menominee County residents travel north and east on US-2 to I-75 South, or take alternate routes to reach Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell.
Industrial and Commercial Workforce Foot Health
Menominee’s manufacturing heritage — paper and wood products have long been the economic anchor — creates a working population with significant occupational foot health demands. Factory workers, dock employees, and trades workers spend long shifts in demanding footwear on hard industrial surfaces. Plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and ankle injuries from slipping on industrial surfaces are common presentations from Menominee-area workers who seek podiatric subspecialty evaluation when local resources are insufficient.
Green Bay Waterfront Recreation
Menominee’s position on Green Bay creates a vibrant recreational scene — charter fishing on Green Bay, kayaking along the Lake Michigan shoreline, hiking in J.W. Wells State Park, and snowmobiling through Menominee County’s winter trail network. These activities generate ankle sprains from variable terrain, stress injuries from high-volume seasonal activity, and the recreational foot injuries that benefit from subspecialty evaluation at Balance Foot & Ankle.
Conditions Treated for Menominee-Area Patients
Comprehensive foot and ankle care is available for Menominee County. Common presentations include plantar fasciitis and heel pain from industrial work, ankle fractures from workplace and outdoor accidents, ankle sprains and chronic instability from outdoor recreation, bunions and hammertoes worsened by work footwear, toenail conditions from heavy boots and fishing activity, diabetic foot care, and flatfoot deformity requiring orthotics or surgical reconstruction.
Planning Your Visit from Menominee
The drive from Menominee to our Howell office runs approximately 3.5–4 hours via US-41 North to connect with US-2 East and I-75 South through the Lower Peninsula. Menominee’s southern UP location means this is one of the shorter drive times for UP patients visiting Balance Foot & Ankle. Telemedicine follow-up is available after in-person evaluation for established patients.
Schedule Your Appointment
If you are in Menominee, Menominee County, or the nearby Green Bay area of Michigan and dealing with a foot or ankle condition requiring subspecialty care, Dr. Tom Biernacki at Balance Foot & Ankle is accepting new patients. Call today to schedule your evaluation.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx Orthotics
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Maximum-support semi-rigid orthotic with deep heel cup — ideal for Menominee industrial workers and outdoor recreationists managing plantar fasciitis from demanding floors and terrain.
Dr. Tom says: “”I work at the mill and my feet were destroying me. These orthotics in my work boots were a game changer — I can finish my shift without the heel pain I used to have.””
Plantar fasciitis, industrial floor workers, arch fatigue, work boot use
Patients requiring custom prescription orthotics for severe biomechanical deformity
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
United Ortho Walking Boot
⭐ Highly Rated | Foundation Wellness Partner | 30% Commission
Medical-grade walking boot for ankle fracture management and post-surgical recovery — provides protection during healing with removable design for therapy exercises.
Dr. Tom says: “”After my ankle fracture, my podiatrist put me in this boot for 6 weeks. Comfortable, protective, and I was back at work in a modified capacity within 3 weeks.””
Stable ankle fractures, post-ORIF protected weight-bearing, ankle injury recovery
Unstable fractures requiring surgical fixation before any weight-bearing is permitted
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Shorter drive than most UP communities — approximately 3.5–4 hours via US-41 and I-75
- Subspecialty fracture management including ORIF for unstable ankle fractures
- Comprehensive diagnostic capability — stress testing, CT review, fluoroscopic assessment
- Telemedicine follow-up minimizes repeat travel for established Menominee County patients
- Experience treating industrial workers, commercial fishers, and Green Bay area outdoor recreationists
❌ Cons / Risks
- Approximately 3.5–4-hour drive from Menominee — advance scheduling strongly recommended
- Not a walk-in clinic — appointment required
- Some imaging may need to be arranged locally before the initial visit
- Post-operative care requires additional Downstate travel during recovery
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Menominee sits right at the Wisconsin border — it has the feel of a small industrial city that works hard and takes care of business. When Menominee-area patients come to see me, they usually have a specific problem and want it solved efficiently. The southern UP location means the drive is manageable compared to some other UP communities, and we can often cover a lot of ground in a first visit — diagnosis, treatment plan, and if appropriate, surgical scheduling — so patients leave with a clear next step.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a podiatrist in Menominee, Michigan?
Menominee has limited podiatric subspecialty services. Many Menominee County residents with complex foot and ankle conditions — including fracture management and surgical needs — travel to Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, MI, for Dr. Tom Biernacki’s comprehensive subspecialty care.
How far is Menominee from Balance Foot & Ankle?
Menominee is approximately 3.5–4 hours from our Howell office. Its southern UP location makes it one of the closer UP communities for accessing Downstate subspecialty care.
Does Dr. Biernacki treat ankle fractures from industrial accidents?
Yes. Ankle fractures, foot fractures, and work-related lower extremity injuries are a significant part of our practice. Accurate fracture classification and appropriate treatment selection — including surgical ORIF when indicated — are key priorities for patients who need to return to physically demanding work.
Can I do a telehealth visit before coming from Menominee?
Yes. Telehealth consultations help us assess urgency and coordinate any imaging needed before your in-person visit.
Does Dr. Biernacki accept patients from the Green Bay/Marinette area of Michigan?
Yes. Patients from Menominee County, the Green Bay area of Michigan, and the Wisconsin border region are welcome at Balance Foot & Ankle.
Michigan Foot Pain? See Dr. Biernacki In Person
4.9★ rated | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Same-week appointments · Howell & Bloomfield Hills
📞 (810) 206-1402 Book Online →
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon 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 reached over one million views.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)