Swartz Creek, Clio, and Northern Genesee County Podiatrist

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Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle: Skin & Wound Care →

Podiatric Care for Swartz Creek, Clio, and Northern Genesee County

Swartz Creek, Clio, Montrose, and communities throughout northern Genesee County have access to board-certified podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our Howell office provides northern Genesee County residents with specialist-level foot and ankle medicine without requiring travel to the Flint or metro Detroit medical centers for many podiatric conditions. We welcome patients from throughout the Genesee County region and provide the same comprehensive services available at major metropolitan practices.

Services for Northern Genesee County Patients

Swartz Creek and Clio-area patients access our complete podiatric service range: plantar fasciitis and heel pain treatment, bunion and hammertoe care including Lapiplasty 3D correction, custom orthotics, ingrown and fungal toenail treatment, diabetic foot evaluations and wound care, peripheral neuropathy evaluation, ankle sprain and instability management, pediatric foot care, and foot and ankle surgery. In-office digital X-ray and diagnostic ultrasound at our Howell location allow efficient same-visit evaluation in most cases.

Accepting Most Major Michigan Insurance Plans

We accept most major Michigan insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Priority Health, and Medicaid for qualified diabetic foot care services. Our team assists with prior authorization, insurance verification, and billing questions to make specialist care accessible to all patients who need it.

Schedule Your Appointment

Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule at our Howell location. New patients from Swartz Creek, Clio, Montrose, Thetford Township, and all of northern Genesee County are welcome. We prioritize prompt scheduling for new patients seeking specialist foot and ankle care.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

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📞 (810) 206-1402

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

More Podiatrist-Recommended Wart Essentials

Breathable Shoe for Foot Recovery

Orthofeet Sprint — deep toe box reduces pressure during wart treatment.

Moisture-Wicking Sock

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OS1st FS4 — dry environment supports wart treatment recovery.

Indoor Recovery Slide

HOKA Ora 3 — keeps treated area protected at home without occlusive pressure.

As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience; prices and availability shown above update live from Amazon.

When to See a Podiatrist

Warts that have been frozen 3+ times without clearing usually need stronger treatment — cantharidin, Swift microwave therapy, or in-office excision. Balance Foot & Ankle treats stubborn plantar warts with methods OTC products can’t match. Most stubborn warts clear in 1-3 in-office visits.

Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402  ·  Book online  ·  Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills

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.

#1

⭐ Editor’s Pick — #1 Orthotic

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PowerStep Pinnacle MaxxDr. Tom’s #1 Brand

Best For: #1 OTC Orthotic — Plantar Fasciitis + Overpronation

★★★★★ 4.5 (28,341+ reviews)

Amazon’s ChoicePrimeAPMA-Accepted

Dr. Tom’s most-prescribed OTC orthotic. Lateral wedge corrects overpronation that causes 90% of foot pain. Deep heel cradle stabilizes the ankle. Built by podiatrists, used by patients worldwide.

✓ PROS

• Lateral wedge corrects pronation
• Deep heel cradle stabilizes ankle
• Dual-density EVA — comfort + support
• Trim-to-fit any shoe
• Used by 10,000+ podiatrists

✗ CONS

• Trim-to-size required
• 5-7 day break-in for some

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Tom’s Verdict: This single insole eliminates plantar fasciitis pain in 60% of patients within 2 weeks. The lateral wedge is the active ingredient — it stops the overpronation that causes the fascia to overstretch with every step. Pair with a max-cushion shoe for compound effect.

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#2

⭐ Best Premium Orthotic

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CURREX RunProDr. Tom’s #1 Brand

Best For: Premium German-Engineered Orthotic

★★★★★ 4.4 (4,000+ reviews)

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3 arch heights for custom fit (Low/Med/High). Carbon-reinforced heel + dynamic forefoot — the closest OTC orthotic to a $500 custom orthotic. Engineered in Germany.

✓ PROS

• 3 arch heights for custom fit
• Carbon-reinforced heel cup
• Dynamic forefoot zone
• Premium German engineering
• Sport-specific support

✗ CONS

• Pricier than PowerStep
• 7-10 day break-in

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Tom’s Verdict: Choose your arch height from a wet-foot test (low/med/high). Wrong arch = re-injury. For runners, athletes, or anyone who failed standard insoles — this is the closest you can get to custom orthotics without paying $500. The carbon heel is what professional athletes use.

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#3

⭐ Best Topical Pain Relief

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Dr. Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief GelDr. Tom’s #1 Brand

Best For: Topical Pain Relief — Plantar Fasciitis + Tendonitis

★★★★★ 4.6 (5,500+ reviews)

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Menthol-based natural pain relief — Dr. Tom’s #1 brand for fast relief without greasy residue. Safe for diabetics + daily use. Cleaner formula than Voltaren or Biofreeze.

✓ PROS

• Menthol-based natural formula
• No greasy residue
• Safe for diabetics
• Fast cooling relief — 5-10 minutes
• Cleaner ingredient list than Biofreeze

✗ CONS

• Pricier than Biofreeze
• Strong menthol scent at first

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Tom’s Verdict: Apply to plantar fascia + calves before bed. Combined with stretching, eliminates morning fascia pain. The clean formula means you can use it daily long-term — Voltaren has 30-day limits, Dr. Hoy’s doesn’t.

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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.