Many have never heard of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Dr. David Shulman wants to change that.

The Thornhill resident is biking from Ontario to Newfoundland to raise awareness of the painful disorder.

It’s marked by pain in body parts such as the limbs, among other symptoms, thought to be caused when pain signals don’t turn off normally after an injury.

Dr. Shulman, who works at the Rothbart Centre for Pain Care in Toronto, Markham Stouffville Hospital and Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital, said those suffering with the pain syndrome are the most challenging of and most distressed patients in his practice.

The pain levels caused by the syndrome are higher than other pain diseases, he added.

“Patients suffer more and can do far less in their personal lives ... I realized they had an extensively poorer quality of life and yet we don’t really understand why ... It’s clearly an area where we need more research,” he said.

Other than trying to raise awareness of the disease, which has no cure, Dr. Shulman is fundraising for research as well as for one of Canada’s only support groups for its victims.

Promoting Awareness of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome offers patient services, like support groups, a newsletter, e-mail and phone support, its co-founder, Helen Small said.

She knows the issues the syndrome’s victims face: she’s had it for more than 20 years.

“When I first had it, I had no help from anyone,” she said.

Ms Small also had trouble being diagnosed.

Sufferers have a better prognosis if the syndrome is diagnosed within the first three months, she said. But quick diagnosis depends on doctors recognizing symptoms.

Funds raised by Dr. Shulman’s ride will be used to spread the word about the syndrome to the medical community.

The remaining funds will go to the McGill Centre for Research on Pain.

Gary Bennett is a senior research chairperson there who has researched the syndrome for 20 years.

Research is expensive, therefore it is important to bring the syndrome to the attention of those who fund medical research, he said.

Dr. Bennett is hosting a forum about research on the syndrome at Montreal General Hospital July 28 where Dr. Shulman will speak about his clinical observations mid-way through his cycle.

The ride started July 19 in Marathon.

Last summer, he cycled from Vancouver to Marathon for an environmental charity.

Five provinces, 16 days and 3,750 km later, he’ll arrive in St. John’s, Nfld.

Dr. Shulman hopes to raise about $30,000.

Updates on his trip and a travel blog will be posted on the awareness group’s website — rsdcanada.org. You can also make an online donation there or print off a donation sheet to mail.

Dr. Shulman’s journey has just begun, but he’s already looking to the future.

He said he was thinking that maybe his effort could develop into a yearly ride, involving more people and a shorter distance.

“We certainly have a lot more we can do and I think we probably will,” he said.