Slow-Healing Foot Wounds — Why They Happen & How We Treat Them in Howell

When a Small Wound Becomes a Big Problem

A cut on a healthy person’s foot heals in days. A cut on a diabetic or vascular patient’s foot can take weeks — or months — and can escalate into a serious infection or ulcer if not properly managed. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, wound care for high-risk patients is one of our most critical services.

Why Foot Wounds Heal Slowly

Wound healing requires adequate blood flow, oxygen delivery, a functioning immune system, and intact sensation to avoid re-injury. Any condition that impairs these processes slows healing. The most common causes of slow-healing foot wounds are: peripheral arterial disease (reduced blood flow), diabetes (impaired immune function, neuropathy, and microvascular disease), venous insufficiency (poor return circulation), smoking (constricts blood vessels), poor nutrition (especially protein, zinc, and vitamin C deficiency), and immunosuppression from medications or illness.

Types of Foot Wounds We Treat

We treat diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and decubitus wounds on the heel, venous leg ulcers extending to the foot, post-surgical wounds that are slow to close, infected blisters and calluses, puncture wounds in diabetic or vascular patients, and traumatic wounds in high-risk patients.

Our Wound Treatment Protocol

Every wound is different, but our approach includes thorough debridement (removing dead tissue), identifying and treating infection, pressure offloading with custom orthotics or specialized footwear, MLS laser therapy to accelerate tissue repair and improve microcirculation, wound dressings appropriate to the wound stage, monitoring for systemic infection, and coordination with internal medicine and vascular specialists when needed.

Don’t Wait — Wounds Worsen Fast

A wound that seems minor on Monday can be infected by Friday. For diabetic or vascular patients, any wound that hasn’t shown clear improvement in 1–2 weeks should be evaluated by a podiatrist. Call Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell: (810) 206-1402. We serve Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, Pinckney, and all of Livingston County.

Professional Podiatric Care in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle’s Comprehensive Services

At Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan patients receive comprehensive podiatric care across the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. Our fellowship-trained podiatrists provide conservative and surgical treatment for all foot and ankle pathology — from plantar fasciitis, bunions, and nail disorders to complex reconstructive surgery, diabetic foot care, and sports injuries. Our clinical approach prioritizes accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment selection, and honest communication with patients about realistic outcomes.

We serve patients in Livingston and Oakland counties from two convenient Michigan locations: our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River (serving Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, Howell, and all of Livingston County) and our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 (serving Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, and all of Oakland County). Both offices offer in-office X-ray, same-week new patient appointments, and a full range of diagnostic and treatment services. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Michigan insurance plans. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your appointment.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
• Bunion Treatment

Michigan patients from throughout the region — Livingston County communities including Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville, and Oakland County communities including Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Rochester — can access expert podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our clinical team is committed to providing the highest standard of foot and ankle care available in Southeast Michigan, from routine preventive care to complex surgical intervention. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule — we look forward to serving you at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills location.

Medical References & Sources

• American Podiatric Medical Association — Patient Education
• American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society — Foot Conditions

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

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.