How Can Severe Pain In The Hips And Arms Be Treated?

my mother in law is 91 and seems to always run out of her pain medication she takes for relief due to the bone to bone arthritis in her back and joints hips hands arms .She takes hydrocodone and must see a doctor every 30 days in order to renew her prescription which puts a huge strain on her at 91 and my sister in law who s taking care of her. the pain is terrible but the Dr says she must report in every thirty days when each time she and my poor sister in law must get dressed, bath, hair get her to the car drive and then get to the drs office and reverse the process to get her home ...its exhausting and very inconvenient. I suggested a treatment that seemed to work for my mother who died of a brain tumor . We used Medical Marijuana and with great success to relieve her pain. It has been suggested for my mother in law by family but the Dr says she would have to go while [a week or so ] without any pain meds in ordered to switch to medical Marijuana . My son is a nurse and he docent seem t agree with the Dr and has the opinion that she could start immediately .We live in California and now Marijuana can be bought without a perscription. We are trying to help a 91 year old that needs relief. Do believe we can cold turkey Hydrocodone and use Marijuana.