★ 4.9 Stars · 1,123+ Reviews · Balance Foot & Ankle Michigan
Where Does It Hurt
Board-certified podiatrists in Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. 4.9★ rated · Same-week appointments · Most insurance accepted · (810) 206-1402.
🦶 Where Does Your Foot Hurt?
Click your pain location on the foot diagram below — or choose a symptom — to see what may be causing it and what to do next.
👇 Click the area that hurts
Diagram shows right foot, bottom view
👆
Click a zone on the foot diagram to see possible conditions and what to do next.
Or scroll down to choose by symptom type.
🦷 Toe Pain
Pain, pressure, or changes at the toes or toenails
- 🔴 URGENTIngrown Toenail — infection risk
- 🔴 URGENTGout Attack — sudden severe pain
- 🟡 SEE USBunion — progressive deformity
- 🟡 SEE USHammertoe — before it stiffens
- 🟣 TREATToenail Fungus — fungal infection
- 🟢 ROUTINECorns & Calluses — pressure lesions
Urgent toe pain? We offer same-day appointments.
⚽ Ball of Foot Pain
Pain under the forefoot or between the toes
- 🔴 URGENTStress Fracture — sharp pain, swelling
- 🟡 SEE USMorton’s Neuroma — burning, numbness
- 🟡 SEE USMetatarsalgia — aching under ball
- 🟡 SEE USSesamoiditis — under big toe joint
- 🟡 SEE USCapsulitis — joint inflammation
- 🟡 SEE USFat Pad Atrophy — lost cushion
Forefoot pain limits every step. Get evaluated today.
🏹 Arch Pain
Pain along the inner edge or bottom of the arch
- 🔴 URGENTPlantar Fasciitis — #1 cause of heel/arch pain
- 🔴 URGENTPTTD — tendon rupture risk if untreated
- 🟡 SEE USFlat Feet — progressive arch collapse
- 🟡 SEE USTarsal Tunnel Syndrome — nerve entrapment
- 🟡 SEE USAccessory Navicular — bone variant
Plantar fasciitis responds best with early treatment. Don’t wait.
➡️ Outside Foot Pain
Pain along the outer edge of the foot or ankle
- 🔴 URGENTJones Fracture — 5th metatarsal base fracture
- 🔴 URGENTAnkle Sprain — ligament tear
- 🟡 SEE USPeroneal Tendonitis — lateral tendon
- 🟡 SEE USCuboid Syndrome — midfoot subluxation
- 🟡 SEE USBunionette (Tailor’s Bunion) — 5th toe bump
Lateral foot injuries need X-ray to rule out fracture.
🗺️ Midfoot / Top of Foot
Pain across the midfoot or top of the foot
- 🔴 URGENTLisfranc Injury — serious ligament/fracture
- 🔴 URGENTStress Fracture — overuse bone injury
- 🔴 URGENTNeuropathy — nerve damage, burning
- 🟡 SEE USMidfoot Arthritis — joint degeneration
- 🟡 SEE USExtensor Tendonitis — top of foot tendons
Midfoot injuries are often misdiagnosed. Get proper imaging.
👟 Heel Pain
Pain at the back or bottom of the heel
- 🔴 URGENTPlantar Fasciitis — worst step in morning
- 🔴 URGENTCalcaneal Stress Fracture — deep bone pain
- 🔴 URGENTAchilles Rupture — sudden pop, can’t walk
- 🟡 SEE USAchilles Tendinopathy — gradual tightness
- 🟡 SEE USHaglund’s Deformity — bump at Achilles
Heel pain is the #1 reason patients see us. We have same-day openings.
🔗 Ankle Pain
Pain, instability, or swelling at the ankle
- 🔴 URGENTAnkle Fracture — can’t bear weight
- 🔴 URGENTSevere Ankle Sprain — grade 2–3 tear
- 🟡 SEE USChronic Ankle Instability — repeated sprains
- 🟡 SEE USAnkle Arthritis — stiffness, crepitus
Can’t put weight on your ankle? Call us now — same-day X-ray available.
🔍 Search by Symptom Instead
Advanced Treatments Available at Your First Visit
MLS LaserAnti-inflammatory + healing
EPAT ShockwaveChronic plantar fasciitis
MagnetotransductionDeep tissue regeneration
3D Custom OrthoticsSame-visit scanning
In-Office ImagingX-ray + ultrasound
Gait AnalysisFind the root cause
Ready to Stop Hurting?
Board-certified podiatrists in Bloomfield Hills & Howell, MI. Same-day appointments available. Most insurance accepted.
📅 Book Online — Same Day Available
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need to see a podiatrist?
If foot pain lasts more than 3 days, limits your activity, or involves swelling, redness, or an open wound — you should see a podiatrist. Many foot conditions worsen significantly when left untreated.
What is the most common cause of heel pain?
Plantar fasciitis accounts for approximately 70% of adult heel pain. It is characterized by sharp pain with your first steps in the morning that improves throughout the day. It responds well to early treatment.
When is foot pain an emergency?
Seek urgent care immediately for: inability to bear weight, severe swelling after an injury, a suspected fracture, an infected wound, sudden severe pain in a person with diabetes, or any foot wound that is not healing.
What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon for foot pain?
Podiatrists specialize exclusively in feet and ankles, offering the full range of care from diagnosis to conservative treatment to surgery. For most foot and ankle conditions, a board-certified podiatrist is the most direct and efficient specialist to see.
How quickly can I get an appointment at Balance Foot & Ankle?
We offer same-day and next-day appointments at our Bloomfield Hills and Howell, Michigan offices. Call (810) 206-1402 or book online.
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Medical-grade 15-20 mmHg graduated compression. DASS socks are the brand I recommend most to patients with swollen feet, poor circulation, and post-surgery recovery. Graduated compression means tightest at the ankle, gradually releasing up the leg — promoting upward venous blood flow.
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Your Board-Certified Podiatrists
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Same-week appointments available at both locations.
Book Your AppointmentBoard-certified care at both Michigan locations
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Most insurance accepted · On-site X-ray · Board-certified podiatrists
Howell · (810) 206-1402 Bloomfield · (248) 335-0322Where Does It Hurt? Foot & Ankle Pain Location Guide
Dr. Biernacki’s visual guide to diagnosing foot pain by location — ball of foot, heel, arch, ankle, top of foot, and toes — with the most common conditions causing each pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes pain in the ball of the foot?
Ball-of-foot pain (metatarsalgia) most commonly results from: Morton’s neuroma (nerve between 3rd-4th toes), sesamoiditis (beneath big toe), metatarsal stress fracture, capsulitis of the 2nd MTP joint, and plantar plate tear. Custom orthotics with a metatarsal pad are highly effective for most causes.
What causes pain on the outside of the foot?
Lateral foot pain is typically: peroneal tendinitis (behind the outside ankle), 5th metatarsal stress fracture (Jones fracture), cuboid syndrome, lateral ankle impingement, or sural nerve entrapment. An ankle sprain that’s not healing appropriately often involves peroneal tendon damage — an MRI differentiates tendons from ligament damage.