OMG, I have been going through these spell for months now and just now got the diagnosis from my ENT doc. I have been so frustrated until today. You really confirmed it for me, and I will be doing more research. Mine started after I had severe bouts of airplane ear (which I have worse than most people anyway) on a trip from Texas to Georgia with multiple descents. I have read that it is a rare condition, so I'm not surprised my PCP's remedies didn't work. My ENT doc wanted to check out my carotid artery and had me scared to death. I hate how they say, "It could be a life threatening condition", and then leave you scared to death while you wait for the test and follow-up. He told me today what was going on and because I am always skeptical and want more information (he gave me almost nothing really), I decided to research "ear spasms" rather than "tinnitus" and "thumping in the ear" like I did before and came up empty handed. I think they should at least have some literature they can give you. When I saw your post and read it, I was so thankful. You gave me good info and ideas and, most importantly, you gave me hope that I can learn to control it.