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Thumb Region Podiatrist | Balance Foot & Ankle — Serving Sanilac, Tuscola & Huron Counties
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
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 hands-on exam plus imaging when needed 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
Insurance Accepted
BCBS · Medicare · Aetna · Cigna · United Healthcare · HAP · Priority Health · Humana · View All →
Howell Office
4330 E Grand River Ave
Howell, MI 48843
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Bloomfield Township Office
43494 Woodward Ave, Suite 208
Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
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Ready to Get Back on Your Feet?
Book online 24/7 at either office.
More Podiatrist-Recommended Foot Health Essentials
Hoka Clifton 10
Max-cushion everyday shoe — podiatrist favorite for walking and running.
OOFOS Recovery Slide
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 online booking 24/7 at our Howell and Bloomfield Township 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 Township
Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Online Booking 24/7
Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Township. If you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, you can book online 24/7.
Book online 24/7. (810) 206-1402
VitaMedica Arnica Gel
Arnica gel plus 15 plant compounds for sore feet, plantar fasciitis flares and post-activity soreness. Apply a thin layer to the sore area.
📋 Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS answers:
No referral is needed to see our podiatrist near Thumb Region Michigan. You can call or book online directly. Most major insurance plans are accepted, including Blue Cross, Medicare, Aetna, Priority Health, and United Healthcare. We treat the full range of foot and ankle conditions including plantar fasciitis, bunions, ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care, neuropathy, and sports injuries. Our board-certified DPM provides both conservative and surgical care. Appointments, including urgent visits, are available for residents of the Thumb Region Michigan area.
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.


