Podiatrist in South Lyon, MI | Balance Foot & Ankle

Do South Lyon patients drive to Howell, or is there a closer option?

Most South Lyon patients come to our Howell office — about 20–25 minutes northwest via Grand River Avenue or I-96. If travel is difficult, we also offer in-home podiatry visits for homebound and limited-mobility patients across the area. Same three board-certified podiatrists either way.

The foot & ankle problems we see most from South Lyon

South Lyon is a fast-growing family town with a walkable downtown and a lot of youth sports, and the problems we see track with that:

• Youth sports injuries. Between South Lyon and South Lyon East athletics and busy travel teams, we see Sever’s disease (heel pain in 9–14-year-olds), sports fractures, ankle sprains, and turf toe. Kids’ foot pain is worth checking early — growth-plate injuries don’t behave like adult ones.
• Walking and running overuse. Folks getting their miles in around downtown, the Huron Valley Trail, and neighborhood loops bring in plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and arch pain — especially in worn-out shoes.
• Golf-season foot fatigue. Eighteen holes on your feet at Salem Hills and nearby courses can aggravate heel pain, forefoot pain, and arthritic joints; the right shoe and support make a real difference.
• Bunions, hammertoes, and ingrown toenails — the everyday structural and nail problems, handled conservatively first.
• Diabetic foot care — routine checks and early wound care to keep small problems small.

We find the real cause first, use the least-invasive fix that will hold, and give you a straight answer on whether a procedure is warranted.

Getting to our Howell office from South Lyon

Free parking at the door. Rough drive times:

• Downtown South Lyon (Lafayette / Pontiac Trail): ~22 min via Grand River Ave.
• North South Lyon / 11 Mile: ~20 min via Kensington and I-96.
• Green Oak border: ~18 min via I-96 W.

Address: 4330 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843 · Phone: (810) 206-1402 · Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:30 PM.

What treatment actually looks like for South Lyon patients

Here is what each of those problems involves once you are in the chair. You can book online for any of them — live times, instant confirmation, no callback queue.

Heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and Sever’s disease

In adults the giveaway is pain on the first few steps in the morning that eases and then returns late in the day — that pattern points to plantar fasciitis. In 9–14-year-old athletes the same complaint is usually Sever’s disease at the growth plate, which is a completely different problem with a different fix. We tell them apart on exam rather than guessing. Our heel pain page walks through the full workup and the treatment ladder, from stretching and taping through injections and shockwave.

Ankle sprains and youth sports injuries

The sprain that still hurts at three weeks is the one that matters. Growth-plate injuries in kids do not behave like adult ligament tears, and a missed fracture is what turns into chronic instability at 30. We keep same-week slots open for acute injuries and image on site. See ankle sprain treatment.

Bunions and hammertoes

We start with footwear, padding, and spacing — and we will tell you honestly when that is all you need. Surgery gets discussed only when the joint is limiting what you can do. Both paths are laid out on our bunions and toe deformities page, and if it comes to that, our surgical page covers real recovery timelines.

Custom orthotics for walkers, runners, and golfers

The Huron Valley Trail and 18 holes at Salem Hills are both a lot of miles on the same tissue. Off-the-shelf inserts flatten out in a few months; custom orthotics are cast from your own foot and built for the surface you are actually on.

Diabetic foot care

A callus or blister you cannot feel is an emergency in slow motion. We do routine diabetic foot exams, offload the high-pressure spots before they break down, and report back to your primary care physician. Yearly check series can be booked all at once online.

Ingrown and fungal toenails

An ingrown nail is a ten-minute in-office fix that most people put off for months. Thick discolored nails need the diagnosis confirmed first — psoriasis and old trauma look identical to fungus and do not respond to the same treatment. See toenail fungus treatment.

Something urgent

Puncture wounds, a foot you suddenly cannot bear weight on, a hot swollen joint. Our urgent foot care slots exist for this and will get you seen faster than an emergency room can.

First visits run about 45 minutes. We X-ray on site, so most South Lyon patients leave with a diagnosis and a plan the same day instead of being sent elsewhere for imaging. Bring your insurance card and the shoes you wear most — the wear pattern is genuinely diagnostic. Check coverage on our insurance page and get your forms done ahead on the new patient information page.

Your South Lyon care team

All three board-certified podiatrists see South Lyon patients at the Howell office — whoever fits your problem and can see you soonest.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS

Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon and founder of Balance Foot & Ankle. Bunions, heel pain, reconstructive surgery. View bio →

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Full-range foot & ankle care with a conservative, sports-medicine-minded approach. View bio →

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Diabetic foot care, nail and skin conditions, and pediatric foot problems. View bio →

Insurance & your first visit

We accept most major plans — Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, HAP, and Priority Health among them — no referral needed. Bring your insurance card, medication list, and the shoes you wear most. Start on our new-patient page or call (810) 206-1402.

South Lyon podiatry questions we hear a lot

Is there a podiatrist office in South Lyon?

Our nearest office is in Howell, about 20–25 minutes northwest. There isn’t a Balance Foot & Ankle office inside South Lyon, but we see South Lyon patients regularly and offer in-home visits when travel is hard.

My child has heel pain from sports — is that serious?

Heel pain in active 9–14-year-olds is usually Sever’s disease, an irritation of the growth plate — common and very treatable, but worth confirming so it isn’t something else.

How fast can I get in?

Usually the same week, sooner for acute injuries. Call (810) 206-1402. If it’s urgent rather than routine, our same-day urgent foot care page explains what we squeeze in fastest.

Serving South Lyon and nearby communities — Green Oak, Lyon Township, New Hudson, and Whitmore Lake — from our Howell office. See both offices or our in-home podiatry visits.