Can't really say without seeing at least a photo but your description sounds more like damage from weed killer drift problems than anything else - curly stem, downward spiral growth, normal looking leaves, etc. You or a neighbor sprayed any weed killers lately?

Dave

Not to my knowledge. My garden set quite aways from the nearest neighbor. Not sure how to post pictures?

you can do a search for Posting pictures......on the Garden Web.

Dusty