Podiatrist Near Me Michigan | Balance Foot & Ankle Locations

Quick answer: Podiatrist Near Me Michigan is a common foot/ankle topic that affects many patients. 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.

Related Conditions

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.

Podiatrist Near Me Michigan

If you’re searching for a podiatrist near you in Michigan, Balance Foot & Ankle has three convenient locations across southeastern and central Michigan — in Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Hills. Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM and his team provide comprehensive foot and ankle care with same-week appointments at all three locations. Most major Michigan insurance plans are accepted.

Our Michigan Podiatry Locations

Howell, MI — Our Howell office serves patients from Livingston County, Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Pinckney, and surrounding Livingston County communities. Conveniently located near US-23 and Grand River Avenue.

Brighton, MI — Our Howell location serves patients from Brighton, Hartland, Howell, Milford, South Lyon, and Livingston and Oakland County. Easy access from I-96 and Grand River Avenue.

Bloomfield Hills, MI — Our Bloomfield Hills office serves Oakland County patients from Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Clarkston, Rochester Hills, Troy, Pontiac, Waterford, and surrounding communities.

What We Treat

At Balance Foot & Ankle, Dr. Biernacki treats the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions — from common problems like plantar fasciitis, bunions, ingrown toenails, and toenail fungus, to complex surgical conditions including Achilles tendon reconstruction, ankle arthritis, ankle replacement, flatfoot reconstruction, and osteochondral lesion repair. We treat patients of all ages, from children with Sever’s disease to adults with diabetic foot complications.

Why Choose Balance Foot & Ankle?

• Board-certified podiatric surgeon with fellowship-trained expertise
• Same-week appointments — no months-long wait
• In-office diagnostic ultrasound — faster, more accurate diagnosis at your first visit
• Full spectrum of care — from conservative treatment to advanced reconstructive surgery
• 1,123+ patient reviews averaging 4.9 stars across Google, Healthgrades, and Birdeye
• All major Michigan insurance accepted — Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, Medicare, Medicaid, and more

Serving These Michigan Communities

Balance Foot & Ankle serves patients throughout southeastern and central Michigan, including: Howell, Brighton, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Troy, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Clarkston, Waterford, Pontiac, Milford, South Lyon, Hartland, Pinckney, Fowlerville, Hamburg Township, Genoa Township, Green Oak Township, and surrounding Livingston, Oakland, and Washtenaw County communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find your nearest Balance Foot & Ankle location in Howell, Brighton, or Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Call or book online today for a same-week appointment with Dr. Tom Biernacki.

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a podiatrist?

See a podiatrist if: foot or ankle pain has lasted more than 2–4 weeks without improvement, you’re changing your gait to avoid pain, you have an open wound or sore that isn’t healing, you notice nail discoloration or thickening, you have diabetes and any foot concern, or pain is severe enough to wake you at night. Most foot conditions are easier and cheaper to treat early — what starts as a minor issue can become a surgical problem with months of delay.

What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon?

Podiatrists (DPM — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) specialize exclusively in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Orthopedic surgeons (MD/DO) have broader musculoskeletal training but variable foot/ankle subspecialization. For foot and ankle-specific problems, a podiatrist often has more focused training and experience. For injuries involving the leg above the ankle, complex pediatric cases, or multi-level reconstruction, orthopedic consultation may be appropriate. We frequently co-manage patients with orthopedic colleagues.

How do I know if my foot pain is serious?

Signs that warrant same-day or next-day evaluation: severe pain that appeared suddenly without clear cause, swelling, redness, and warmth that appeared suddenly (possible gout, infection, or Charcot fracture), an open wound that looks infected (redness spreading, pus, warmth), inability to bear weight, or any foot problem in a diabetic patient. Pain that’s been present for weeks and is stable is important but not an emergency — schedule within 1–2 weeks.

Can foot problems cause back and knee pain?

Yes — this is a kinetic chain effect. Abnormal foot mechanics (overpronation, supination, leg length discrepancy) cause compensatory changes in knee, hip, and lumbar alignment. Roughly 30% of patients presenting to our clinic with knee pain have a treatable foot-level biomechanical cause. Correcting foot mechanics with orthotics or appropriate footwear often provides significant knee and back relief. If you have chronic knee or back pain and haven’t had your foot mechanics evaluated, it’s worth a consult.

Are orthotics worth it?

For the right conditions, yes — custom orthotics are among the most cost-effective interventions in podiatry. They’re most effective for: plantar fasciitis, flat feet with secondary knee/back pain, leg length discrepancy, metatarsalgia, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and diabetic foot pressure management. Quality OTC orthotics ($35–60) resolve symptoms for 60% of patients with mild-to-moderate conditions. Custom orthotics are appropriate when OTC options have failed or when the biomechanical problem is complex. We cast custom orthotics in-office.

How do I choose the right running shoes?

Start with your foot type (flat, neutral, high arch) and running pattern (overpronator, neutral, supinator). Flat feet and overpronators do best in stability or motion-control shoes. Neutral feet do well in neutral-cushioned shoes. High arches need maximum cushioning with flexible soles. Always buy running shoes at the end of the day (foot swelling peaks then), get properly fitted by a specialist, and replace every 300–500 miles. If you’ve been injured repeatedly, a gait analysis can identify the mechanical flaw driving your injury pattern.

What is the difference between a sprain and a fracture?

A sprain is a ligament injury (the tissue connecting bones); a fracture is a break in the bone itself. Both can occur with the same trauma (ankle roll, fall). The old test — ‘if you can walk, it’s not broken’ — is wrong; many fractures are initially weight-bearable. Key differences: a fracture typically produces localized bone tenderness along the bone itself, while a sprain is tender over the ligament. X-ray is the standard to differentiate. High-grade sprains without proper treatment can be as disabling as fractures.

How do I prevent foot and ankle injuries?

The four most impactful prevention strategies: (1) Supportive, appropriately fitted footwear for your foot type and activity. (2) Gradual activity progression — the 10% rule (never increase weekly mileage or intensity by more than 10%). (3) Regular calf and ankle mobility work. (4) Strengthening the posterior tibial tendon, peroneals, and intrinsic foot muscles. Most overuse injuries are preventable; most acute injuries are not — but ankle sprain recurrence (60–70% without rehab) is prevented by balance and proprioception training.