Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM
Board-certified podiatric surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Last reviewed: May 2026
Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-day appointments for urgent foot and ankle conditions across Southeast Michigan — but the most important factor in outcomes isn’t getting seen quickly. Our podiatrists explain what to do in the first 24-48 hours before your appointment that most patients skip entirely. Call (810) 206-1402 — expert podiatric care across Michigan.
Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Southfield is one of Oakland County’s most dynamic cities—a professional, medical, and commercial hub home to a diverse population with sophisticated healthcare expectations. Oak Park, immediately adjacent, is a tight-knit community whose residents prize convenient, quality local care. Balance Foot & Ankle, led by Dr. Tom Biernacki, serves both communities with expert podiatric medicine and surgery, same-week appointments, and broad insurance acceptance.
The most important clinical decision with Podiatrist Southfield Oak Park Michigan Oakland County Balance Foot Ankle isn’t which treatment to start with — it’s identifying the correct subtype. That changes everything. Call (810) 206-1402.
Expert Foot & Ankle Care for Southfield & Oak Park
Dr. Biernacki’s practice treats the full range of foot and ankle conditions: heel pain and plantar fasciitis, bunions and hammertoes, ankle sprains and fractures, Achilles tendinopathy, sports injuries, diabetic foot exams and wound care, ingrown and fungal toenails, flat feet and custom orthotics, nerve entrapments, and foot and ankle surgery. We treat adults of all ages and provide care from comprehensive annual diabetic exams to surgical correction of complex deformities.
Professional Foot Care for Southfield’s Business Community
Southfield’s large professional class—attorneys, executives, healthcare workers, and business owners—faces the particular challenge of chronic heel and forefoot pain from extensive standing and walking in professional footwear. Dr. Biernacki understands the professional patient: comprehensive evaluation, clear explanation of diagnosis and options, efficient appointments that respect busy schedules, and treatment plans that work within real-life constraints. Custom orthotics fabricated for professional dress footwear are among our most popular services for Southfield patients.
Diabetic Foot Care in Southfield
Southfield’s diverse population includes a significant proportion of patients managing diabetes—creating high demand for expert diabetic foot surveillance. Dr. Biernacki provides annual comprehensive diabetic foot exams, neuropathy screening, vascular assessment, wound care, and Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program enrollment. Diabetic patients who attend annual foot exams have dramatically lower amputation rates than those who do not—please make this appointment a priority in your healthcare calendar.
Nail Care & Urgent Appointments
Ingrown toenails, fungal nails, and nail infections are among the most common urgent podiatric presentations from Southfield and Oak Park patients. Dr. Biernacki provides same-day or next-day nail procedures for infected ingrown toenails, professional nail debridement, and matrixectomy for permanently eliminating recurrent ingrowth. Fungal nail treatment protocols include prescription topical and oral antifungals after diagnostic confirmation with KOH microscopy.
Access from Southfield & Oak Park
Balance Foot & Ankle is easily accessible from Southfield via I-696, Greenfield Road, and Northwestern Highway, and from Oak Park via 10 Mile Road and Greenfield. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Priority Health, HAP, Aetna, Cigna, Medicare Part B, and Medicaid/Healthy Michigan. Same-week appointments available—book online or call our office. Expert Oakland County foot and ankle care is ready when you need it.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Clarks Men’s Tilden Walk Dress Shoe — Professional Comfort
⭐ Highly Rated
Clarks Tilden Walk combines a professional leather dress appearance with Cushion Plus technology—responsive EVA footbed cushioning and a lightweight outsole. Accommodates custom orthotics due to a removable insole and slightly deeper last. Recommended by Dr. Biernacki for Southfield professional patients managing plantar fasciitis in work settings.
Dr. Tom says: “I’m a Southfield attorney on my feet all day in court. These dress shoes are the first pair that look professional AND don’t destroy my heels. My podiatrist approved them.”
Best for: Professional patients needing dress shoe appearance with meaningful footwear support; plantar fasciitis in work settings
Not ideal for: Patients needing maximum biomechanical support; severe flat feet requiring custom orthotics that don’t fit standard lasts
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Gold Bond Medicated Foot Powder — Antifungal Moisture Control
⭐ Highly Rated
Gold Bond medicated foot powder with antifungal miconazole controls moisture, reduces friction, and prevents tinea pedis recurrence—important for Southfield patients managing onychomycosis concurrently treating athlete’s foot as a reinfection reservoir. Daily powder application in shoes and between toes is recommended during and after antifungal therapy.
Dr. Tom says: “My podiatrist insisted I treat my athlete’s foot simultaneously with my nail fungus treatment to prevent reinfection. This powder as a daily shoe application made a real difference.”
Best for: Tinea pedis prevention and treatment adjunct; plantar hyperhidrosis management; onychomycosis patients needing antifungal shoe hygiene
Not ideal for: Open foot wounds; patients with powder allergies; replace professional diagnosis and treatment
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Professional dress shoe orthotic fabrication for Southfield business and legal community patients
- Same-week appointments for urgent nail and heel concerns for Oakland County patients
- Diabetic foot surveillance with Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program for Southfield senior patients
❌ Cons / Risks
- Custom orthotics require casting and 2–3 week fabrication
- Surgical procedures require 2–4 week outpatient facility scheduling
- Complex wound care requires vascular surgery co-management
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
Southfield patients are busy, they’re sophisticated, and they want real answers—not vague reassurances. I respect that. I give every patient the same thorough evaluation I’d give a colleague. We talk through the diagnosis, the options, and the evidence. Southfield professionals want the truth about their condition and the most effective path to resolution. That’s exactly what we provide.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept patients from Southfield’s Jewish community?
Absolutely. We welcome all patients from Southfield and Oak Park, including the significant Orthodox and observant Jewish community in these neighborhoods. We are mindful of scheduling around Jewish holidays and Shabbat, and our team works to accommodate community members’ scheduling needs. Please let us know your scheduling preferences when booking.
Can you provide custom orthotics that fit professional dress shoes?
Yes—slim-profile dress shoe orthotics are one of our most requested services for Southfield professionals. We fabricate ultra-thin graphite or slim EVA orthotics that provide meaningful biomechanical correction in business shoes without the bulk of standard athletic orthotics. These are separate devices from athletic orthotics prescribed for gym and casual wear.
How quickly can I be seen for a painful heel in Southfield?
We offer same-week appointments for new patients with significant heel pain. If your heel pain is severe enough to limit your work schedule or daily activity, call first thing in the morning—we prioritize patients in significant pain and will find the earliest available appointment.
Do you coordinate with Southfield-area doctors?
Yes. Dr. Biernacki actively coordinates with primary care physicians, endocrinologists, vascular surgeons, and orthopedic specialists throughout the Southfield and Oakland County medical community. We provide consultation letters and treatment summaries to referring and co-managing providers, and can coordinate complex cases requiring multidisciplinary input.
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 →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a podiatrist?
If symptoms persist past 2 weeks, affect your normal activity, or are accompanied by red-flag symptoms (warmth, redness, swelling, inability to bear weight).
What does treatment cost?
Most diagnostic visits and conservative treatments are covered by Medicare and major insurers. Out-of-pocket costs vary by your specific plan.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Most non-urgent cases see us within 5 business days. Urgent cases (sudden pain, possible fracture) typically same or next business day.
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.
Find a Board-Certified Podiatrist (American Podiatric Medical Association)
Ready to Get Relief?
Same-day appointments available in Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
4.9★ | 1,123 Reviews | 3,000+ Surgeries
Or call: (810) 206-1402
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.