"Six to Eight Weeks of no running." -Doctor Bob
This terrible perscription is probably the emotional low point in most runner's careers. There is nothing that can be done for a stress fracture besides rest and limited activity. The only way to beat these nasty fractures is through prevention. It all starts with what kind of shoes the runner is using. If they are from Kohls or Wal Mart, they had better be in the trash by tommorow. The best thing a runner can do for injury prevention is be fitted by a running shoe expert at a running specialty store. Check with your local running club for recommendations. If you live in the wilderness use a website like roadrunnersports.com. They will help guide you through a series of tests to get the right shoes. Having the correct shoes will hopefully prevent the injury, but even if you still get the fractures you can use these simple treatments.

Remedy:
Treat with ice and anti-inflammatories, but keep in mind that stress fractures are not a self-diagnosis/ self-treatment type of injury -- a proper x-ray or bone scan is necessary to prescribe treatment. Depending on the location of the fracture, recommendations may differ. Consult your doctor about appropriate cross-training activities.

For anyone interested, here's the definition of a stress fracture for runners.
Definition:
A tiny crack in the surface of a bone, usually in the lower leg or the metatarsals of the foot. Stress fractures usually occur when runners are increasing the intensity and volume of their training over several weeks to several months. Muscle soreness and stiffness progress over this period, and a pinpoint pain develops on the sore bone. If you suspect you may have a fracture, see a doctor immediately, as further running will only worsen what may be a cracked bone. He or she can perform an x-ray which may show a crack; however, more often than not, a stress fracture won't appear on an x-ray and your doctor should then refer you to a sports-oriented physician for a bone scan.