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Thumb Region Podiatrist | Balance Foot & Ankle — Serving Sanilac, Tuscola & Huron Counties

Residents of Michigan’s Thumb region — including Sanilac, Tuscola, and Huron Counties — face unique challenges accessing specialty medical care. Balance Foot & Ankle provides expert podiatric care for Thumb region patients who travel to our southeast Michigan locations for evaluation and treatment of foot and ankle conditions. We understand the commitment traveling patients make and are dedicated to making every visit thorough, efficient, and worth the drive.

Communities We Serve From the Thumb Region

We welcome patients from Sandusky, Port Sanilac, Marlette, and Sanilac County; Caro, Cass City, Vassar, and Tuscola County; Bad Axe, Pigeon, Harbor Beach, and Huron County; and all surrounding Thumb communities. Via M-53 or I-94, access to our Bloomfield Township and Howell offices typically ranges from 60-90 minutes from Thumb region communities — a trip many patients gladly make for specialized care not readily available locally.

Why Thumb Region Patients Travel for Podiatric Care

Michigan’s Thumb region has limited access to surgical podiatric specialists, particularly for complex conditions like flatfoot reconstruction, ankle arthritis surgery, minimally invasive bunion correction, and advanced diabetic wound care. Many Thumb region patients are referred to our practice after reaching the limits of local general medical care for complicated foot conditions. We welcome these referrals and work to provide the comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan these patients need, often in fewer visits than would be required elsewhere.

Diabetic Foot Care for the Thumb Region

Michigan’s Thumb region has significant rates of agricultural occupational injury, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease — all contributing to elevated foot complication risk. Diabetic foot ulcers, poorly healing wounds, and neuropathic complications are frequent presentations from this region. Our comprehensive diabetic foot care includes advanced wound management, offloading strategies, vascular assessment coordination, and in appropriate cases, surgical debridement or reconstruction to achieve wound closure. We work collaboratively with patients’ local physicians to provide specialty care while maintaining continuity with the care team closest to home.

Full-Scope Podiatric Services

Balance Foot & Ankle provides the complete range of podiatric services for Thumb region patients: plantar fasciitis and heel pain, bunion and hammertoe correction, ankle sprain and instability management, Achilles tendon disorders, toenail fungus and ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care and wound management, orthotics, and complex reconstructive surgery. Whatever has been limiting your mobility, we have the expertise to address it.

Scheduling for Traveling Patients

We accommodate traveling patients whenever possible by scheduling diagnostic imaging (in-office digital X-ray, diagnostic ultrasound), evaluation, and initial treatment at the same visit, minimizing the number of trips required. Call (810) 206-1402 to discuss your situation with our scheduling team — we’ll find an approach that works for patients traveling from the Thumb region.

Foot or Ankle Pain? We Can Help.

Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI

📅 Book Online
📞 (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 Foot Health Essentials

Hoka Clifton 10

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Max-cushion everyday shoe — podiatrist favorite for walking and running.

PowerStep Pinnacle Insole

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The podiatrist-recommended over-the-counter orthotic.

OOFOS Recovery Slide

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Impact-absorbing recovery sandal — wear after long days on your feet.

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

If foot or ankle pain has been bothering you for more than a few weeks, home care alone may not be enough. Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-week appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills clinics — no referral needed in most cases. Bring your current shoes and a short list of symptoms and we’ll build you a treatment plan in one visit.

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

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.