What Is The Treatment For Severe Swollen Wrist And Hand Pain?

My husband has had four episodes of sudden and severe pain in his left wrist and hand in the past three weeks. They usually subside within an hour. The underside of his wrist appears somewhat swollen. It is painful to the touch and to move. He doesn't remember injuring his wrist, but was lifting heavy cement blocks for a yard project in the week prior to the first episode. The closest symptoms appear to be carpal tunnel or pinched nerve. However, in between there is no pain. The first time it happened while he was sleeping on a plane. Tonight it was after taking a walk.