On the field at the University of Tennessee, defensive back (DB) Trevon Flowers was known for his intense gameplay, strong athletic ability, and defensive nature. He appeared in 46 career games with 36 starts, had 227 tackles, 5 interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 3 forced fumbles. In 2022, Flowers was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist. But recently, Flowers learned that he is facing an off-field battle that has, for the time being, altered his life. 

In early July 2023, Flowers shared on Instagram that he had been diagnosed earlier this year with a rare muscle disease called myositis. As described in WATE, myositis causes muscle inflammation, wasting, and sometimes pain. Flowers began experiencing symptoms during his last year on the Volunteers. But even though he felt like something was “off,” his doctors weren’t finding any answers.

Eventually, tests showed that Flowers had myositis. He began treatment earlier this year in February. There are multiple subtypes of myositis and treatment tends to be targeted for each one. To learn more about the various types of myositis treatment, check out this helpful guide from the Myositis Association. 

During the initial phases of treatment, Flowers was unable to participate in any extra workouts or physical stressors. While this meant that he had to miss out on certain opportunities, like Pro Day, he has since been cleared to begin exercising again from his doctors. 

We thank Flowers for raising his voice and increasing myositis awareness. 

About Myositis

As briefly explained above, myositis is a rare muscle disorder that affects the muscles. There are multiple forms of myositis, including polymyositis (which causes trunk muscle weakness), dermatomyositis (which often comes with a skin rash), inclusion body myositis, juvenile myositis, and necrotizing myopathy. Learn more about these forms here.  

The underlying cause of myositis is unclear. Doctors believe that it could be an autoimmune or immune-mediated disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. However, some research also suggests that a combination of lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors may play a role. 

Given the fact that there are multiple subtypes, symptoms may differ from person to person. Potential broad symptoms may include:

• Fatigue that may worsen after activity
• Frequent tripping or falling
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Night sweats
• Joint pain
• Trouble rising from a chair, climbing stairs, or lifting your arms
• Muscle pain and soreness

You can check the list above (“these forms”) for more targeted information on the symptoms associated with each specific subtype.