This prospective randomized comparative active control study was done to compare the efficacy of the two commonly used steroid preparations methylprednisolone acetate and triamcinolone acetonide for patients with refractory low back ache. A total of Sixty patients suffering from recurrent episodes of Lumbar radicular pain > six months but < one year with failure of at least twelve weeks of conservative therapy were included in the study. Thirty patients were assigned in one of the two groups (Group M or Group T) randomly. Group M patients received epidural injection containing 0.25% Bupivacaine 8 mL mixed with Inj. Methylprednisolone (80 mg). In contrast Group T patients received epidural injection of 0.25% Bupivacaine 8 mL mixed with Inj. Triamcinolone (80 mg). Outcome was measured using changes in pain scores obtained on the Visual Analog scale and in SLR measured at each follow up interval up to 4 weeks. 23 out of 26 patients (88.5%) in the group M and 21 out of 27 patients (77.8%) in the group T with positive SLR showed improvements in the degree of their SLR at 4 weeks follow up with no significant difference in the number of patients showing improvement between the two groups (p value 0.582). The degree of pain relief obtained on the Visual Analog Scale was in favor of triamcinoline group up to two hours post procedure. However after 2 hours there was no statistically significant difference observed in the VAS scores between both the groups. This study confirmed the efficacy and safety of the depot preparations of methylprednisolone and triamcinolone for their use in lumbar epidural steroid injections for the treatment of refractory low back ache. No definitive conclusions however could be made with regards to the relative efficacy of these two drugs.